Human-triggerable wind slabs in the Alpine. Conservative route selection is in order. The late March sun is intense and will raise avalanche hazard levels on solar aspects quickly. Start early and finish early.
Wind slabs were touchy in the Alpine today, but not as much of an issue at lower elevations. These new slabs will take several days to improve.
When the solar radiation is strong and the air temperatures rise, loose wet avalanches will start to run. Avoid these terrain features after mid-morning.
Wednesday will be a mix of sun and cloud with temperatures climbing to -2 and freezing levels near 2200m. When the sun is out, it will feel intense! Winds will be light to moderate from the west.
Further evidence of a natural avalanche cycle up to size 2.5 primarily on SE, E and NE aspects. So far these have all been wind slabs, with only very minor and small loose dry avalanches observed.
The recent storm snow of up to 30cm remains dry on northerly aspects, but was moist on the solar side by midday. By morning expect snow on SE through W aspects to have a surface crust. At treeline and below the recent snow is bonding well, but in the Alpine there is a different story. Wind slabs are evident on all aspects except west. The natural avalanche cycle is tapering off, but loaded slopes in the Alpine are primed for human-triggering.
