Touchy wind slabs are sensitive to human triggering in the Alpine. Down in the valley, warm overnight temps means the surface crust will break down quickly and hazard will rise as a result.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Mainly cloudy today, with 2-5 cm forecast in the alpine and potential for rain showers late in the afternoon at lower elevations. Ridge top wind will be from the SW at 10-25kph with freezing levels rising to 1800m. Tuesday will remain unsettled with some snowfall and freezing levels hovering around 1800m, this weather pattern continues to Thursday.
Snowpack Summary
10-20cm of new snow in the last 48 hrs. Moderate SW winds at tree-line and alpine have formed wind slabs on lee features & huge cornices at ridgetop. These slabs sit on a temp crust that extends to ridgetop. Cold, dry snow can be found on high northerly slopes while solar aspects become moist with sunshine & isothermal snow can be found below TL.
Avalanche Summary
A field team encountered touchy surface wind slabs in northerly lee aspects at 2200m. The 10-15cm soft slabs were easily failing with ski cuts and running fast on a temp crust. This layer was observed to be still reactive yesterday in the Asulkan valley. Late last week avalanches to size 3.5 were observed, likely cornice triggered.
Confidence
Freezing levels are uncertain