Extremely warm conditions with strong sun will drive the Avalanche Danger. Be alert to conditions that change throughout the day, and watch your overhead hazard. Large avalanches may run farther than expected.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Weather Forecast
A ridge of high pressure will remain the dominant feature for the weekend. Sunny conditions are expected for Friday with moderate southwest winds in the alpine and afternoon freezing levels around 3500m. Mainly sunny conditions are expected for Saturday and Sunday with light alpine winds and afternoon freezing levels around 2800m.
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday, natural loose wet avalanches up to size 1.5 were reported. Skiers and explosives were triggering wind slabs up to size 1.5 in leeward features and on steep rolls. A couple point releases triggered slabs up to size 2.5. With warm and sunny conditions continuing, spring avalanche problems are expected to be the primary concerns. Loose wet avalanches and large cornice falls are expected throughout the forecast period. Lingering wind slabs may also still be a problem on high elevation north aspects.
Snowpack Summary
20-30cm of recent snowfall overlies a mix of old surfaces that formed as a result of last week's big warm-up. The old buried surface includes hard crusts on high elevation solar aspects, settled dry snow in high north-facing alpine terrain, and moist snow everywhere else. The recent snow has been shifted by strong southerly winds into fresh wind slabs in wind-exposed terrain. With forecast solar radiation and warm temperatures, most surfaces will transition to a daily melt-freeze cycle, while recently formed wind slabs will linger on high north-facing slopes. Below the new snow, the snowpack is generally strong and well-settled. Cornices are huge and will become weak with warming and solar radiation.