6am update: Heightened avalanche conditions exist on specific terrain features. On Tuesday, this includes small pockets of wind slab in immediate lees of ridgecrests and moistening snow on steep solar aspects during periods of strong sun.
Spring is a dynamic time of year where conditions can vary widely and change rapidly. Carefully assess your local conditions and pay attention to how the weather is affecting the snowpack throughout the day.
Recent snow has seen mild wind effect. Wind slabs have been soft and specific to immediate lees of ridge crests. They could remain triggerable by riders on Tuesday.
Loose wet avalanches will become increasingly likely on steep solar aspects as the surface becomes moist or wet with strong sun.
On Monday, solar-triggered loose wet avalanches were observed out of steep south aspects.
Over the weekend, loose dry avalanches were numerous, naturally and skier-triggered, size 1-2. Small wind slabs to size 1 were reported, triggered by sun, skiers and loose dry avalanches from above.
A moist or crusty surface exists on solar aspects and low elevations. 15 to 20 cm of recent snow sits over a variety of surfaces including crust. Shady, wind sheltered areas at upper elevations hold dry, soft snow. Low elevations are melting out rapidly.
A weak layer of sugary facets is still prominent at the base of the snowpack. Although we haven't seen avalanche activity on it for some time, it could reactivate with sudden changes like prolonged or intense warming shocking the snowpack. Large loads like cornice falls are the most likely things to trigger this layer but human triggering may be possible in rocky, shallow, or thin-to-thick snowpack areas.
Monday night
Partly cloudy. Light variable wind. Alpine low -12 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud. Light northeast wind. Alpine high of -2 °C. Freezing level rises to 1400 m.
Wednesday
A mix of sun and cloud. Light southwest wind increasing to moderate. Alpine high of -1 °C. Freezing level rises to 1500 m.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. Moderate southwest wind. Alpine high 0 °C. Freezing level rises to 1700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
