Periods of intense solar are possible today, and the sun has PUNCH! If the sun does show itself, avoid exposure to steep solar aspects and exposure to slopes threatened by cornices.
Weather Forecast
Today will be unsettled and convective. Expect a mix of sun, cloud and flurries with freezing levels around 1600m and generally light winds. On Wed a low pressure system will move in later in the day, bringing up to 10cm. Freezing levels should be around 1900m with gusty winds. Thurs will be similar, with another 5-10cm.
Snowpack Summary
At treeline and above over 45cm of snow has fallen in the last 5 days, amounts decrease with elevation. The new snow is settling and overlies a firm crust everywhere except high elevation N'ly aspects. Strong S'ly winds loaded lee features over the weekend. Cool temps overnight are providing crust recoveries, stabilizing lower elevations.
Avalanche Summary
Strong solar yesterday morning triggered loose, moist avalanches to size one. These loose avalanches triggered a few size 2 slabs, running on the crust down ~45cm. In addition a few large cornice failure were observed from N'ly aspects, but they did not step down and trigger deeper layers. Small, thin windslabs have been reported in the alpine.
Confidence
Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.