Avalanche Forecast

Hot weather continues through the weekend, with the freezing level around 2800 m. A brief disturbance on Saturday may bring some cloud, increasing westerly winds, and localised convective showers.

A natural cycle of size 1-2 loose wet and wet slab avalanches continued on Thursday. Similar activity is expected until temperatures cool.

On shaded slopes above 2000 m you may still find cold winter snow (and unicorns), which is reported to be settled and faceted on sheltered slopes, and wind-affected in exposed areas. Warm temperatures have promoted a daily melt-freeze cycle on all other snow surfaces. Cornices are large and looming and have become increasingly weak with the sunny weather. In the upper snowpack you'll likely find a few hard crusts which exist everywhere except on high, north-facing terrain. The late February surface hoar/ crust interface (down 80 to 130 cm) remains a low probability/ high consequence concern. Test results are variable, with occasional sudden planar (pop) results. While generally becoming unlikely to trigger, this layer could produce surprisingly large and destructive avalanches with a cornice fall or warm temperatures.