Tuesday will be the start of a warm wet weather pattern. An increase in wind, precip, both rain and snow and warming temps will elevate the avalanche conditions at all elevations for different reasons. Wind slab development at higher elevations where the temperatures remain cool and wet loose activity lower down where the temperature is rising and a higher likelihood of rain.
With the predicted warm weather coming, expect the recent snow to settle quickly. If the sun comes out we may see the reactivity of the wind slabs increase. Pay attention to temperatures, particularly on south aspects.
This will become more reactive as the day time temperatures climb and if the snow comes more as rain at lower elevations.
One notable Skier accidental on Mt. Engadine. Was reported to KMR 3rd hand, field teams went and checked out the area today. Looks like the skier was caught and rode the avalanche a long ways. Lost gear and post holed out to highway. This seems to have triggered a windslab in the high treeline/ alpine NW aspect,
Otherwise no new avalanche activity observed today.
Recent storm snow has settled to about 40cm at treeline with a total snow depth of 210-245cm. Mush less on the east side of the spray, averaging 130cm at tree line. The march 7th crust is down 30-50 cm and seems to be mostly an issue on solar aspects. In test results we are getting moderate Sudden planar results below the crust on small facets. The Feb 14th is still noticeable down about 110cm.
Tuesday: A low is pushing South and bringing warm air and precip. Snow and rain. Winds are expected to be strong to extreme out of the West. Increasing to well over 100km/h Tuesday evening. Temps will hover around -2 with freezing levels rising to 2200m. "Flurries" all day.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
