Back into a stormy pattern leading into the weekend. Expect to see the avalanche danger gradually rise over the coming days as snowfall amounts begin to accumulate.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Wednesday
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY: Periods of snow, accumulation Tuesday night into Wednesday 10-20cm / Moderate south wind / Alpine temperature -1 / Freezing level 1500 m THURSDAY: Periods of snow, accumulation 10-15cm / moderate to strong south wind / Alpine temperature -1 / Freezing level 1500mFRIDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5cm / Light to moderate east wind / Alpine temperature -1 / Freezing level 1500m
Avalanche Summary
On Monday numerous natural loose wet avalanches up to size 1.5 were observed on southeast through west aspects in steep rocky terrain. Also a few natural cornice releases to size 2.5 were observed running to the bottom of their run outs entraining loose snow only. On Sunday, a natural cornice release triggered a size 3 slab avalanche which release down 60 cm and ran to valley bottom. Skiers were triggering size 1 soft slabs in wind loaded features. On Wednesday, expect newly formed wind and storm slabs to be reactive to human triggering. These slabs are expected to be particularly touchy where they overlie a melt-freeze crust.
Snowpack Summary
Widespread melt-freeze conditions are expected on all aspects and elevations except for high elevation north facing terrain. On all aspects below around 2000 m and higher on sun exposed slopes, there may be multiple crust layers in the upper snowpack including the late-March rain crust which is now typically down 60-80 cm. Expect to see another 10-20cm of new snow from Tuesday night sitting on the old snow surfaces above the 1300m elevation band. Moderate alpine wind from the south will have redistributed this new snow and formed additional wind slabs in the alpine and at tree line which may overlie a crust. Large cornices exist primarily on north aspects in the alpine.
mbender,
Avalanche Canada
