⚠️ Avoid avalanche terrain ⚠️Elevated temperatures in the alpine and solar input will result in a widespread natural avalanche cycle
Check out our latest blog about the forecasted warming
Cornices will weaken with prolonged warm temperatures at higher elevations. Cornice failure could trigger avalanches that have the potential to step down to deeper weak layers creating very large avalanches.
Two reactive layers exist in the upper snowpack. One is down 40 cm and the deeper one down 80 to 150 cm. We expect to see a widespread avalanche cycle on these layers with intense warming through the weekend.
Warming and periods of sun will produce widespread wet loose avalanches, especially on steep sun-exposed slopes. These may step-down and trigger deeper slab avalanches.
On Thursday, a wide range of natural avalanches were reported throughout the region up to size 3. Natural cornice failure and solar radiation were likely the trigger for many of these avalanches. Several skier triggered avalanches were reported up to size 2.
We expect to see a widespread natural avalanche cycle over the next few days. Avoid avalanche terrain and exposure from overhead hazards (open slopes, cornices) as avalanches could run full path.
Moist snow surfaces will extend into the alpine (except for high north-facing slopes) with rising freezing levels, especially on sun-exposed slopes.
40 to 60 cm of recent storm snow is settling rapidly with warm temperatures. The new snow sits on sun crusts and wind-affected snow from previous strong southwest winds.
Below this, two layers of surface hoar and sun crust can be found in the top meter of the snowpack. One from late February and the other from early March.
A hard widespread crust formed in early February is buried about 80 to 150 cm deep. This crust has a layer of facets above it and continues to be reactive.
The snowpack below this crust is generally not concerning except in shallow alpine terrain.
Friday
Clear skies. 5 to 10 km/h north ridgetop wind. Alpine temperatures are a high of +3°C. Freezing level around 3000 m.
Saturday
Sunny. 10 to 25 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Alpine temperatures high near +5°C. Freezing level rising to 3200 m.
Sunday
Sunny. 10 to 25 km/h south ridgetop wind. Alpine temperature high near +5°C. Freezing level around 3200 m.
Monday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Alpine temperature high near +4°C. Freezing level around 3000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
