Pay attention to daytime heating. Windslabs and cornices will become more reactive as temperature increases
Weather Forecast
Clear this morning with increasing cloud in the afternoon as pacific front moves inland. Freezing levels are forecasted to reach 1700m today with an alpine high of -2 deg and variable ridgetop wind gusting to 25kph. Starting tonight(Tues) through Thursday up to 20 cm of new snow is forecast.
Snowpack Summary
We experienced a good overnight freeze last night, and the snowpack should be crusted over to 2000m. Windslab exists on alpine lee features. Last week's storm snow is well settled with the warm temps and sits over crusts on solar aspects. The Feb 27 interface is down 70cm and is more sensitive on steep solar aspects.
Avalanche Summary
Over the weekend there was a number of avalanches triggered by cornice fall. Monday's warm temps triggered a natural avalanche cycle to sz 2.5, with avalanches leaving moist deposits. Freezing levels have dropped significantly which has improved avalanche hazard at treeline & below
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.