Strong winds overnight have created windslabs. Use caution as you approach lee features and be mindful of changing snow conditions.
Weather Forecast
The Arctic air mass sitting over us will begin to be pushed out and we'll see more typical spring weather. Today expect a mix of sun & cloud with 10km/hr SW winds & freezing level to 900m. No precip is forecast for the next 24-48hrs, but localized convective flurries are possible. A Pacific low brings warmer air & snowfall later in the week.
Snowpack Summary
55cm of settled storm snow at treeline and above in the past week. Strong N'rly alpine winds overnight have loaded lee features. Storm snow is settling into a cohesive slab on a buried crust/facet layer down 70-90 which is now whumphing and showing sudden test results. This suncrust exists on East-West aspects & is most reactive around treeline.
Avalanche Summary
On the 31st we observed a natural avalanche cycle to size 3. These were triggered by intense solar heating on the new storm slab. Cornices are also large and have been reported to be failing by our near neighbors just outside the park.
Confidence
Wind effect is extremely variable
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.
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.