Avalanche danger is falling but check out the reactivity of the new storm snow on smaller features before committing to bigger lines.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Thursday
Weather Forecast
Spring like temperature swings will push the freezing level up to 1500m daily. TUESDAY: partly cloudy with isolate flurries, light west winds. WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy with isolate flurries, light west winds. THRUSDAY: sunny, light to moderate easterly winds.
Avalanche Summary
Natural and artificially triggered avalanche activity up to size 2.5 was reported from across the region over the weekend. Cornices remain large and fragile. They have been failing naturally and would likely collapse under the weight of a person. In the north of the region, a cornice collapse triggered a deep persistent weakness that caused a size 3.5 avalanche on Sunday.
Snowpack Summary
New snow and sustained moderate to strong winds have formed fresh storm slabs and loaded lee features. The upper snowpack sits above a crust that was reported on all aspects and elevations before the weekend. Isolated pockets of surface hoar were also reported in high north facing terrain that stayed cool prior to the storm. The mid-pack is generally well settled. A layer of surface hoar buried in early January can now be found down 1-2 m. In most places it is thought to be capped by a thick widespread crust.
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.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.