Fresh storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering this weekend, especially in wind loaded terrain. Start on smaller terrain features and gather information before committing to bigger lines.
20 to 50+ cm of recent storm snow now rests on a crust. Although warm temperatures are helping the snow to settle and bond, human triggered avalanches remain possible this weekend, especially in wind loaded terrian features.
If the sun comes out, the potential for wet loose avalanches will increase, especially on steep sun-exposed slopes.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Trace of snow, moderate to strong west wind, freezing level near valley bottom.
SATURDAY: Broken cloud cover, trace of snow possible, moderate west/northwest wind, freezing level beginning near valley bottom, rising to around 800 m.
SUNDAY: Broken cloud cover in the morning giving way to scattered cloud cover in the afternoon, no significant precipitation expected, light east/northeast wind, freezing level beginning near valley bottom, rising to around 1000 m in the afternoon.
MONDAY: Scattered cloud cover at dawn increasing to broken cloud cover after lunch, potential for some light flurries/rain in the afternoon, moderate south wind, freezing level beginning near valley bottom, rising to around 1000 m in the afternoon.
On Thursday, reported avalanche activity was limited to pinwheeling on south facing slopes and some loose dry avalanches in steep terrain. A size 2 skier triggered storm slab at 1300 m was also reported.
On Wednesday, a large (size 2) wind slab released naturally on an east aspect in the alpine. A small (size 1) wind slab avalanche was observed in a cross-loaded feature near ridgetop.
10 to 50 cm of recent storm snow overlies a hard melt-freeze crust. (In some of the snowier places in the region, you may find as much as 80 cm over the crust.)
Cornices are very large and exposure to them should be minimized, especially during warm or windy weather.
