Fresh wind slabs may be reactive to human triggering at upper elevations, especially where they sit above a crust.
New snow and strong southwest winds may build fresh and reactive wind slabs. Wind slabs can be expected in leeward terrain features in the alpine and treeline. These wind slabs will be most reactive where they overlie a slick crust.
Springtime cornices are large, weak and unpredictable. Give them a wide berth when traveling at ridge crest and avoid overhead exposure.
Unsettled weather is forecast for the weekend. This will bring mostly cloudy skies, new snow of 5-10 cm, and moderate to strong southwest winds at ridgetop. Freezing levels will rise to 1500 m during the day and drop overnight.
No new avalanches were reported on Thursday.
On Wednesday in the Renshaw area, several natural wind slab avalanches were reported and machine-triggered slabs up to size 1.
Above 2000 m, 10-20 cm of new snow overlies 20 cm of denser snow that tapers rapidly with elevation. Below 2000 m a melt-freeze crust exists on all aspects and to mountain top on solar aspects. Below the crust, the top 10-30 cm of the snowpack is moist. This brings 50-60 cm over the mid-March interface at upper elevations.
Westerly winds have formed reactive wind slabs on leeward terrain in the alpine and exposed treeline terrain.
