Thursday will be another warm day before things start to cool off this weekend, so start and end your day early.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Thursday: Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperature: High 8 °C. Wind SW 15 km/h gusting to 70 km/h. Freezing level: 2400 metres.
Friday: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated showers. Alpine temperature: Low 0 °C, High 6 °C. Wind SW 20 km/h gusting to 65 km/h. Freezing level: 2400 metres.
Saturday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Snowpack Summary
A crust exists on the surface to ridgetop on solar aspects and at low elevations breaking down during the day. This tops 30-50cm dense snow above of the Feb 14 facet layer which is above hard surfaces in most places. The remainder of the midpack is made up of dense facets and decomposing crusts, with early season ice crusts forming the base.
Avalanche Summary
Size 1-2 wet loose avalanches have been observed at the heat of the day on solar aspects over the past week, with no slab activity.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
Problems
Loose Wet
The sun is packing a punch these days, and surface snow can destabilize on steep solar aspects when it comes out.
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
Aspects: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices have grown quite large. It's hard to predict when one might fall, but rising temperatures and strong sunshine will make it much more likely.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 20th, 2021 4:00PM
