As the weather clears, approach the backcountry with caution. The storm snow will take time to heal. The forecast warm temperatures with incoming solar radiation will delay this on sunny slopes.
Weather Forecast
Temperatures will be remaining mild as we begin a new weather pattern with more of a spring like feel. A ridge of high pressure will bring larger diurnal temperature fluctuations with more solar punch as the sun shines. Freezing levels are expected to rise to 1550m and no new snow is expected for the near future.
Snowpack Summary
Expect a surface crust and moist snow below it below 2000m. The recent storm snow over the March 2nd crust is around 1m. The Feb. 10 interface is down around 2m. The mid and lower snowpack is well settled.
Avalanche Summary
Yesterday's storm produced a widespread natural avalanche cycle to size 3.5 throughout the highway corridor. Avalanches began dry but ended as moist deposits on their fans. Artillery controlled produced impressive avalanches to size 4.0 showing wide propagation.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
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.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.