The new snow that fell with another blast of winter over Easter will quickly be affected by periods of heating expected on Tuesday and more so on Thursday. Expect an increase in avalanche activity as the sun comes out on these days.
Weather Forecast
Winds should return to westerly Tuesday limited clear patches, freezing levels should reach 2000m. Wednesday winds should diminish allowing for convective flurries to produce a limited amount of snow with a freezing level near1800m. Clearing and light winds Thursday will allow for significant heating with freezing levels expected to reach 2200m.
Snowpack Summary
Early last week, a solid crust could be found everywhere but above 2400m on North Aspects. At the end of last week West winds built windslabs with 5 to 10 cm of new snow TL and above over this crust. Since Saturday NE winds have brought an additional 20 cm of snow with a bit more yet to come Monday night. Cornices have seen some fragile new growth.
Avalanche Summary
Visibility has been poor over the last few days however neighboring areas are reporting that the new snow is failing as loose dry avalanches to size one. This activity can be expected to continue heating causes a transition to loose wet activity instead.
Confidence
Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.