Warm temperatures, high freezing levels and solar radiation will make pockets of windslab more reactive and may weaken cornices.
Weather Forecast
Today expect increasing cloud, with above freezing temps into the alpine and moderate to strong SW winds. Flurries should start overnight. Wed and Thurs will be cloudy with flurries. Freezing levels are expected to be ~2000m with accumulations of 4cm a day above that elevation. Moderate to strong SW winds will transport the new snow.
Snowpack Summary
Below treeline the surface crust is softening with above freezing temps. Variable conditions higher up from wind deposited powder, to stiff wind slab, to bare crust. Reactive wind slab may exist at ridge crests. Recently buried surface hoar with variable distribution is down ~15cm. This sits just above the Feb 14 crust which is ~5-10cm thick.
Avalanche Summary
No new natural avalanches have been observed recently. In the region, windslabs continue to be triggered by skiers. Windslabs appear to be most reactive on northerly aspects in the alpine.
Confidence
Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.