The hot and sunny weather persists on Wednesday, which will likely continue the natural avalanche cycle. The danger will be the highest when the day heats up, so make sure you are completely out of avalanche terrain, with no overhead exposure.
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY NIGHT: Clear skies, light south wind, alpine temperature 5 C, freezing level 3200 m.WEDNESDAY: Clear skies, light southeast wind, alpine temperature 6 C, freezing level 3400 m.THURSDAY: Clear skies, light southeast wind, alpine temperature 5 C, freezing level 3100 m.FRIDAY: Clear skies, light southeast wind, alpine temperature 4 C, freezing level 2900 m.
Avalanche Summary
Many wet loose avalanches were observed on Tuesday, from small to large (size 1 to 3). They occurred on southeast to southwest aspects and at all elevations. A wet slab avalanche was also observed on a south aspect with a depth of 60 cm, likely releasing on the weak layer described in the snowpack summary.This avalanche cycle is expected to continue, as temperatures remain exceptionally warm and the sun shines strong.
Snowpack Summary
A cohesive slab of snow around 20 to 30 cm thick overlies weak and sugary faceted snow or a melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes. Natural avalanches are expected to continue at this interface.Below treeline, a weak layer of faceted grains and/or feathery surface hoar crystals buried in mid-January can be found around 50 to 90 cm deep, which may be combined with a melt-freeze crust on south aspects. The current warm conditions may awaken this layer, resulting in large, destructive avalanches. Steep cutblocks and large open glades at lower elevations are the most likely places to trigger this layer. Smaller loose wet avalanches may trigger this layer.The base of the snowpack is composed of weak faceted snow, which may be associated with a melt-freeze crust. The warm air and sunny skies could increase the likelihood of triggering very large avalanches on this layer.
Problems
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.
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.