Human triggered wind slabs remain possible. Use extra caution on north facing slopes at ridgeline.
Back off solar slopes if the sun is out; natural avalanche activity can spike.
Wind slabs may be possible to trigger on leeward slopes at treeline and in the alpine. Back off if you encounter signs of instability like whumpfing, shooting cracks or avalanches.
Dry loose sluffing is likely in steep terrain features.
The March sun can pack a punch. If the sun is out, avoid solar aspects.
On Tuesday, several dry loose avalanches up to size 1 were reported.
Wind slabs on northerly facing slopes at upper elevations may be reactive to human triggering on Thursday.
When the sun comes out, natural avalanche activity will spike, especially on solar slopes.
New snow accompanied by strong to southwest wind will likely form fresh wind slabs at upper elevations on leeward slopes.
This brings 70 to 100 cm (deeper totals in leeward terrain) of recent storm snow, which sits above a crust and a mix of facets and surface hoar that formed earlier this month. Solar slopes will see moist snow if the sun is out.
The mid and lower snowpack is strong and dense with depths of near 400 cm at treeline elevations.
Wednesday Night
Cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 600 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with some sunny periods and isolated flurries. 20 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 800 m.
Friday
Cloudy with 5 cm. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 900 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow. 70 to 100 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 900 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
