Variable spring weather makes for rapidly changing affects on the surface storm slab. Take the time to monitor surface layer bonds to underlying crusts.
Weather Forecast
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries and light ridge top winds from the SW. Possibility of rain this afternoon with freezing levels rising to somewhere in the 1500-2000m range depending what forecast you trust. Monday another pulse of moisture should bring us upwards of 15cm and a freezing level of 1800m.
Snowpack Summary
6cm overnight and over 30cm in the last 72hrs. The main pulse of snow was accompanied by strong S'ly winds. Storm snow sits on a supportive crust between 1500-2000m. Below 1500m the crust becomes thin & unsupportive. Higher elevations expect 30-50cm dry snow with isolated wind slabs. The Mar 15 crust complex down 70-90cm on solar aspects.
Avalanche Summary
A couple size 2.5 avalanches off of steep terrain on Mt MacDonald paths yesterday. Thin storm snow natural slides to size 1 were observed in the backcountry. Ski cuts at treeline on a NE aspect yesterday produced surface slabs to size 1 down to the underlying crust. These slides were sluggish and only released where pushed with no propagation.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system 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.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.