The appearance of the strong April sun may initiate a round of loose avalanche activity. Take care to plot a route that keeps you from being on or under steep south facing slopes and watch for isolated pockets of wind slab, especially around ridge crest.
Watch for fresh wind slabs on all aspects. Although the recent storm snow is settling and bonding to the existing snowpack, we can't ignore that we've had wind from the south, southeast and west. To further confuse things, we're expecting some north wind on Sunday.
Although temperatures remain seasonally cool, the sun packs a lot of punch this time of year. Take care to avoid being on or underneath south facing slopes that are baking in the sun, especially after lunch.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Trace of snow possible, light north wind, freezing level at valley bottom.
SUNDAY: Broken cloud cover in the morning giving way to just a few clouds in the late afternoon, no significant precipitation expected, light northeast wind, freezing level beginning at valley bottom, rising to around 1100 m in the afternoon.
MONDAY: A few clouds at dawn with cloud cover increasing to broken after lunch, potential for some light flurries/rain in the afternoon, moderate south wind, freezing level beginning near valley bottom, rising to around 1000 m in the afternoon.
TUESDAY: Broken cloud cover, no significant precipitation expected, strong east/northeast wind, freezing level beginning at valley bottom, rising to around 500 m in the afternoon.
Loose dry avalanches ran naturally on Friday to size 3, which is a pretty impressive. Thin wind slabs up to size 2 also failed naturally and were sensitive to human triggering on Friday. At lower elevations, loose wet avalanches ran naturally to size 2.
Observations were a bit thin on Thursday, but this MIN sums it up very well. Up to 50 cm of new snow producing audible avalanches in big terrain, and smaller storm slabs in more moderate terrain.
It's been a snowy and cold spring, above 1200 m, there is up to 100 cm of snow from the last week that rests on a hard melt freeze crust. This snow is settling and bonding quickly, and we're seeing nice consistent overnight re-freeze of the snowpack.
Cornices are very large and exposure to them should be minimized, especially during warm or windy weather.
