It is winter in the high alpine, with storm slabs and cornices still lurking. Lower down, a poor refreeze overnight has kept avalanche hazard elevated.
Weather Forecast
Today's weather will bring a mix of sun and cloud with flurries, freezing levels rising to 1300m, and light to moderate westerly winds. More unsettled weather is forecast for tomorrow, with slightly cooler temp's. The Spring convective flurries are the main story, with brief, intense bursts of snow, followed by warm April sunshine.
Snowpack Summary
Storm snow from the last 2 days totals 20-30cm in the alpine. This has formed a storm slab at tree-line and above, while the new snow is insulating a moist, isothermal snowpack below tree-line. Multiple crusts exist in the upper snowpack at treeline & below. Cornices are large in the alpine and if they fail, they will likely trigger deeper layers.
Avalanche Summary
There was limited natural avalanche activity observed yesterday, due to poor visibility and slightly cooler temp's. Glide cracks below tree-line continue to grow and should not be trusted, especially with no solid refreeze overnight. A field team observed a glide crack failure 2 days ago from a SE aspect at around 1300m.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality 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.
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.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.