Freezing levels above the mountain tops and sunny skies are warming the snowpack, particularly around midday. Best to avoid sunny slopes and overhead avalanche terrain.
Read our blog on the impact of warming.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Weather Forecast
MONDAY: Sunny, light southwesterly winds, alpine temperature 1 C, freezing level rising to 2500 m.TUESDAY: Sunny, light southwesterly winds, alpine temperature 3 C, freezing level 3000 m.WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny, light southwesterly winds, alpine temperature 3 C, freezing level 2500 m.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous small loose avalanches were noted on solar aspects on Saturday with strong solar input. The forecast warming and sunshine may wake up a deeper weak layer on steep south facing slopes resulting in large and destructive avalanches.
Snowpack Summary
20 cm of recent storm snow is settling rapidly with warm daytime temperatures. Expect moist snow on solar aspects and on all aspects up to 1400 m.Cornices are large and prone to failure with warm air temperatures and sunny skies.The upper/mid-pack is generally well-settled and strong. The lower snowpack is weak with a combination of crusts and facets near the bottom of the snowpack that are widespread. The primary concern looking ahead is the potential of these deeper persistent weak layers becoming active by rapid warming of the snowpack through rising freezing levels and intense solar radiation. This is most likely to occur on south-facing slopes.