Wind slabs may react to human triggers around ridges and lee features. Loose wet avalanches remain a concern, especially on sunny slopes.
Over the weekend, large (up to size 3) storm/wind slab avalanches were observed in the alpine. Use caution around ridges and lee features, slabs may still be reactive to human triggers.
Expect thin surface crusts to breakdown quickly during the day, especially on sunny slopes.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with clear periods with isolated flurries, trace to 5 cm, light to moderate west wind, alpine temperature +2 C, freezing level 1300 m.
WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and clouds, moderate northwest wind wind, alpine temperature +1 C, freezing level 1800 m.
THURSDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods, light west wind wind, alpine temperature -1 C, freezing level 2100 m.
FRIDAY: Mix of sun and clouds, light west wind, alpine temperature 0 C, freezing level 2200 m.
On Saturday morning evidence of large (up to size 3) natural wind slab avalanche cycle was observed on all aspects above 1500 m; natural avalanches continued throughout the day, two large (2.5-3) natural wind slab avalanches were observed around 3 pm on south aspects. Storm and wind slab avalanches to size 3 were triggered with explosives on all aspects in the alpine (above 2300 m). Impressive results were recorded including sympathetic avalanches to size 2.5; one shot triggered 6 large avalanches as far as 600 m away.
Avalanche activity continued through Sunday, natural wind slab avalanches to size 3 were observed with daytime warming and explosives triggered several size 2 wind slab avalanches on north and east aspects at 2500 m. No avalanche observations were reported on Monday.
Rain has soaked the snowpack at treeline and below. In the alpine, the recent snow is settling and preserved on north aspects. A crust is present on all solar alpine aspects and below 2200 m, the strength of which will depend on overnight recovery and the speed at which the snowpack warms during the day.
Weak and sugary faceted grains may remain at the bottom of the snowpack in the alpine, producing a low likelihood but high consequence scenario. Steep, rocky areas with a shallow snowpack are the most likely places to trigger this layer. At lower elevations the snowpack is below threshold and the bike trails are quickly drying.
