We've finally enjoyed a spring melt-freeze cycle. With good timing, fun and safe skiing has been possible. That will change this weekend. Very high freezing levels, with above freezing overnight temps will prevent overnight recoveries.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Recent clear skies and below freezing temps overnight have formed a strong melt-freeze crust, that holds up until mid day. This continues today, with an alpine high of 3'C and a low of -1'C overnight. However over the weekend temps continue to rise, and won't drop below freezing overnight. Temps to 14'C and freezing levels to 3500m are forecast.
Snowpack Summary
N'ly winds kept conditions cool yesterday. The melt-freeze crust on the surface is over 15cm thick, with the top ~5cm breaking down to "corn" by early afternoon. Below this crust is ~60cm of weak, moist snow; a concern if the crust breaks down. On steep, N'ly aspects above ~2000m the snow remains dry. At low elevations the snow is rapidly receding.
Avalanche Summary
There has been very little avalanche activity lately, but sporadic avalanches continue to occur. On Tuesday, a size 3 wet slab on the SW face of Cheops Mountain at about 2500 meters. Glide-cracks are opening up on many slopes and can fail unpredictably.
Confidence