Avalanche Forecast

THURSDAY NIGHT: Clear / Light, southeast ridgetop wind / alpine low temperature 4 / Freezing level 3000 m.

FRIDAY: Sunny / Light, south ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature 9 / Freezing level 3000 m.

SATURDAY: Sunny / Light, southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature 8 / Freezing level 3000 m.

SUNDAY: Sunny / Moderate, east ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature 2 / Freezing level dropping to 2000 m.

Warm sunny weather this week will cause wet loose avalanches and cornice failures.

Numerous naturally triggered wet loose avalanches up to size 3 and cornice failures to size 2.5 were reported on Wednesday.

Lingering wind slabs may still be reactive in isolated locations on steep northerly aspects in the alpine. All other terrain is undergoing a melt-freeze cycle with successive days of warm sunny weather. 

Strong solar radiation and warming will likely trigger the large cornices that hang over ridgelines. Cornice falls could trigger large avalanches on the slopes below.

The snowpack is overall strong and settled in most areas, however, sustained warming can increase the likelihood of large avalanches failing on deeply buried weak layers.This is most likely to occur on steep, rocky alpine slopes with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack.

Glide cracks releasing as full depth glide slab avalanches become more common in the spring and are extremely difficult to predict. Best practice is to avoid slopes with glide cracks.

• Extra caution is needed around cornices under the current conditions.
• Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
• As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
• Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.