Summary
Confidence
Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain for the entire period
Weather Forecast
Saturday: A mix of sun and cloud. Freezing level around 1700 m. Minimal wind.Sunday: Warm and dry, with increasing cloud and winds increasing from the SW in the afternoon. Freezing level around 1600 m. Monday: Light to moderate precipitation, mostly falling in the early morning. Moderate SW winds. Freezing level around 1600 m.
Avalanche Summary
Recent reports include cornice fall and loose wet avalanches. Full-depth size 2-3 glide avalanches have been releasing on rock slabs.
Snowpack Summary
Rain fell to 2000 m on Wednesday. Ongoing warm temperatures and the rain have caused the surface snowpack layers to become isothermal (at 0 °C), even on north aspects, to about 2100 m. This is expected to have formed a crust in most areas, now covered by a small amount of new snow. Very large cornices are looming. Glide cracks have opened up and pose the threat of large, full-depth releases, especially on steep rocky terrain features at low elevations. Otherwise, a relatively strong and deep spring snowpack exists, which becomes weak during periods of warm weather or rainfall. A buried crust/surface hoar layer from late March, within the upper 1.5 m of the snowpack, is reported to have gained strength in the Duffey Lake area, but remains a lingering concern.
Problems
Cornices
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wet Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 14th, 2012 9:00AM