Warmth is the main driver of avalanche hazard at the moment. Minimize your exposure to large slopes if the snowpack is becoming moist or wet.
Weather Forecast
Tuesday: Freezing level starting around 2500m, lowering to 1500m by days end. Strong SW winds at treeline, Extreme SW winds at ridgetop. No significant precipitation expected.Wednesday: Freezing level hovering around 1500m. Partly cloudy skies all day. Moderate W winds at treeline, Strong W winds at treeline. No significant precipitation.Thursday: Freezing level holding around 1500m. Light variable winds at treeline, light W winds at ridgetop. No significant precipitation expected.
Avalanche Summary
On Monday our field team was in the Crown Mountain area where they noticed a few large slab avalanches on an extreme E/NE face that were likely triggered by cornice fall. On Saturday in the neighboring Lizard Range a size 2.5 avalanche that was likely triggered by cornice fall was observed, but the bulk of the observed activity was limited to minor sluffing and small loose wet avalanches.
Snowpack Summary
Sustained warm temperatures are helping to rapidly settle the snowpack at and below treeline. Ongoing SW winds have likely left lingering wind slabs on north through east facing features. The mid-March rain crust is down 30-60cm and has shown a good bond with snow above. Old persistent weak layers are still intact in the mid and lower snowpack. There is potential for these layers to wake up with sustained warming and/or significant rain. Recent cornice growth has been reported and these cornices may become fragile with daytime warming.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Wet Slabs
Wet Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) that is generally moist or wet when the flow of liquid water weakens the bond between the slab and the surface below (snow or ground). They often occur during prolonged warming events and/or rain-on-snow events. Wet Slabs can be very unpredictable and destructive.