Avalanche Forecast

Good

Spring-like conditions persist through the weekend with clear, sunny, and very warm temperatures during the day. We should see some cooling at night. Alpine temperatures are expected to reach above zero degrees and little wind is forecast.Friday: Few clouds. Alpine temperatures reaching 4.0 degrees. Freezing levels rising to 2200 m in the afternoon then dropping  700 m overnight. Ridgetop winds will blow light from the West.Saturday: Few clouds. Alpine temperatures reaching 5.0 degrees. Freezing levels rising to 2400 m in the afternoon then dropping to 1000 m overnight. Ridgetop winds blowing light from the West.Sunday: Sunny. Alpine temperatures -3.0. Freezing levels 1600 m  and then falling to valley bottom overnight.

Solar aspects have been very active showing loads of natural loose wet, dry and cornice releases. Cornice releases have been reported up to size 3, and not pulling out slab avalanches on the slopes below. Loose wet avalanches have been size 1-2.5 and predominantly from solar aspects at all elevations.I expect avalanche activity to continue with warming temperatures and sunny skies throughout the forecast period.

Surface faceting and surface hoar growth ( up to 20 mm) has been prevalent on shady slopes and at upper elevations, while the surface snow on sun-exposed slopes and at lower elevations has been subject to daily melt-freeze cycles. Cornices are reported to be very large and weakly bonded. Cornice fall has been responsible for triggering some persistent weak layers below and initiating some very large avalanches.The weak layer of buried surface hoar from March 10th is down more than a metre in most places, and is giving variable results in snow profile tests. However, this deep persistent weakness remains a concern and may be triggered by larger loads or hitting the sweet spot in thin, variable snowpack areas. Wind slabs are reported to be strengthening, but may continue to be sensitive to human-triggers.