Temperatures stayed above freezing at treeline above Thursday night. Valley bottom barely got below freezing. Avoid exposure to moist or wet slopes. Sun exposed slopes above may already be moist this morning
Summary
Weather Forecast
Friday will be the hottest day of the week. No precipitation and clear skies. Freezing level 3000m. Light N wind
Above freezing temperatures are forecast again Friday night with a weak inversion
Saturday no precipitation, clear skies, freezing level 2700m, light NW wind
Sunday no precipitation, sun and cloud, freezing level 1800m, moderate NE wind
Snowpack Summary
Temperatures above freezing for 2 nights at treeline and above. N aspects are still holding dry snow in the alpine and at treeline. The April 7th layer is down 20-40cm depending on aspect and elevation, and the March 18th crust is down 60cm-1m. The mid and lower snowpack is very strong with old crusts and facets decomposing at the base.
Avalanche Summary
Several large slab avalanches yesterday afternoon to sz 3.5 from solar aspects. Activity is expected to increase in the next few days. A skier accidental sz 2 in Forever Young on Monday, see the MIN report here. Skiers and riders have triggered cornices accidentally on approach this week and they continue to fall naturally without warning.
Confidence
Problems
Wet Slabs
Inverted temperatures and strong solar radiation today will elevate the hazard in solar exposed terrain. Overnight inverted temperatures in the alpine may cause crusts to break down very early. Check out this link for more info on spring conditions.
- Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices continue to fail this week both naturally and human triggered. The sun is beating down on the top of cornices even over polar aspects. Avoid exposure to cornices
- Avoid travel on slopes that are exposed to cornices overhead.
- Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 17th, 2021 8:00AM
