A spring storm on Wednesday will bring strong westerly winds, rain at lower elevations and up to 25 cm above 2000 m.
Weather Forecast
Expecting 10 to 15 mm of precipitation on Wednesday. This will fall as rain at lower elevations and may translate to over 25 cm of snow at and above treeline. Strong westerly winds will accompany this precipitation and temperatures will remain cool for this time of year.
Snowpack Summary
Rain will weaken the melt freeze crust below treeline producing a wet and unconsolidated snowpack. Windslabs will build on the smooth temperature crusts at and above treeline on north to east aspects.
Avalanche Summary
No avalanche activity has been reported or observed in the past 5 days.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Wednesday
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.