We have transitioned to spring conditions due to Daily Melt-Freeze Cycles beginning today. Early starts with early finishes are advised.
Wind slabs up to 30cm thick may now be present in the alpine from recent storm snow and wind, mainly in lee areas. These slabs sit on sun crusts and firm wind affected snow giving them the potential to run far.
Freezing levels are forecast to rise to 2500m Sunday and potential for solar inputs exists. This combination will produce loose wet avalanches as it has on Saturday afternoon. This will be the case in the alpine on Southern aspects.
Clear weather on Sunday with freezing levels up to 2500m. Alpine temps could be as warm as -5 and well above zero tree-line and below. Wind is expected to be in the moderate range from the SW. A diurnal cycle (melt freeze) is expected to begin Sunday and extend for at least 3 days.
Up to 15cm of recent storm snow has fallen since late Thursday. This has fallen over a thin sun crust on solar aspects which overlies 10-20 cm of snow that fell on April 19/20 with significant wind to form wind slabs, mainly in the alpine. Several crusts are now buried in the snowpack on all but north aspects.
Wet loose avalanches up to size 2 were observed at treeline and the alpine during a late afternoon flight. These avalanches were mainly occurring on solar aspects.
