Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

On Tues, a field team was able to easily trigger size 1 storm slabs on steep rolls at tree line and cut cornices triggering up to size 2 loose wet avalanches on steep faces. Loose snow avalanches were accumulating mass in the paths and running far.

A group exiting the Asulkan cabin Mon morning was able to easily trigger wet loose avalanches up to size 1.5 while descending the moraines.

Natural wet loose avalanche cycles, up to size 2, occurred on Sun and Mon in the highway corridor.

5-15cm of new snow at treeline & alpine. Earlier this week temps at treeline were above 0°C for over 48-hours, creating isothermal snow down 50-70cm.

In some locations the new snow has insulated the moist snow below it, preventing a crust from forming. In other locations the late March crust has refrozen creating an excellent sliding surface for the ~30 cm of moist (dry in alpine) snow on top.

Persistent weak layers linger in the mid-snowpack but will likely remain inactive.

Unsettled conditions continue Wednesday

Tonight cloudy, isolated flurries. Wind SW 20-30 km/h. Freezing Level (FZL) 1500m

Wed Mix of sun/cloud, isolated flurries. Alpine high -3°C. Wind SW 20. FZL 1900m

Thu Flurries (8 cm). Alp high 0. Wind SW 25, gusting 70. FZL 2200m

Fri Cloudy with sunny periods. Alp high -5. Wind SW 20-40. FZL 1500m

• Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
• Keep in mind that the high density of wet avalanches can make them destructive.
• Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.