Avalanche danger is falling but check out the reactivity of the new storm snow on smaller features before committing to bigger lines.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Thursday
Weather Forecast
Spring like temperature swings will push the freezing level up to 1500m daily. TUESDAY: partly cloudy with isolate flurries, light west winds. WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy with isolate flurries, light west winds. THRUSDAY: sunny, light to moderate easterly winds.
Avalanche Summary
Natural and artificially triggered avalanche activity up to size 2.5 was reported from across the region over the weekend. Cornices remain large and fragile. They have been failing naturally and would likely collapse under the weight of a person.
Snowpack Summary
New storm snow may overlie older stubborn wind slabs in lee features. Up to 75cm of well settled storm snow is making for excellent skiing especially in sheltered north facing terrain. Moist snow can be found at lower elevations. Cornices are large and fragile. The mid and lower snowpack are strong and well-settled.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.