Keep a close eye on how the temperature and sun are affecting the snowpack in your local zone. The freezing level is forecasted to rise well into the alpine for Tuesday morning, but other factors may keep the upper snowpack cool, lowering avalanche danger.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how the snowpack will react to the forecast weather. A small change in the upper snowpack could dramatically change avalanche conditions.
Weather Forecast
MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. No new snow/rain expected. Light northwest ridgetop wind. Freezing levels fall to around 1000 m.Â
TUESDAY: Mostly sunny. No new snow/rain expected. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing levels reach 2500-2800 m throughout the region.Â
WEDNESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud. Light snow/rain expected overnight and through the day. Light to moderate southwest wind. Freezing level falling to around 1500 m.Â
THURSDAY: A mix of sun and cloud. Possible trace of snow/rain. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level falling to around 750 m overnight and rising to 1500 m through the day.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported on Monday before 4 pm.
Saturday and Sunday, small loose wet avalanches were naturally triggered by warm temperatures and short periods of sunshine.
On Friday, a size 1.5 cornice triggered wind slab was reported in an alpine feature.Â
Snowpack Summary
With freezing levels rising as high as 2500 m, moist snow is expected on all aspects into the alpine. In the northern end of the region, on the few peaks above 2500 m, recent snowfall totals of 5-10 cm may sit on wind affected surfaces in shaded alpine areas, and on a sun crust on south facing slopes.Â
A melt-freeze crust from mid March exists down 40 to 60 cm on all aspects below 1500 m. The mid and lower snowpack is thought to be well settled and strong at this time.Â
Terrain and Travel
- In times of uncertainty conservative terrain choices are our best defense.
- Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
- Be alert to conditions that change throughout the day.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
- When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
Problems
Loose Wet
With freezing levels rising into the alpine, the surface snow may become moist or wet, and natural and rider triggered loose wet avalanches could become likely.
The size of these avalanches will be mostly influenced by how deep the loose snow is.
- If there is a solid, supportive crust on the surface, avalanches will be unlikely.
- If the temperature is above zero, the sun is on a slope, and there is very little wind to keep the surface cool, avalanches will become more likely.
Pay close attention to conditions as they change through the day, the conditions you experience could be anywhere between the two extremes mentioned above.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wet Slabs
Minimize your exposure to large open slopes during intense sun and warming. Last week's warm weather triggered large wet slab avalanches on steep and open terrain features at treeline and below, especially where the snowpack sits over smooth rock slabs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 29th, 2022 4:00PM
