A push of warm air continuing into Thursday night and forecasted precipitation/wind Friday will leave the avalanche hazard elevated.
The March 31 crust in present down 30-70 cm. This crust has been both naturally and skier triggered recently. Human trigged avalanches on this layer are still possible.
New snow and moderate winds will build storm slabs on Friday. These are burying old wind slabs from earlier in the week. Be suspect of slopes where stiffer, dense surface slabs are present.
High temperatures, sun, and rain have weakened the snowpack below treeline. Hazard will remain elevated until freezing levels drop.
A frontal system brings rain at lower elevations and snow at upper elevations Fri.
Tonight: Isolated showers, Alp low 0*C, FZL 1700m, mod S winds, gust to 65
Fri: Flurries, 13cm Alp high -1, FZL 1900m, Light winds/Strong gusts
Sat: Few Flurries, Trace, Alp high -8, FZL 1000m, Light winds
Sun: Few Flurries, Trace, Alp high -7, FZL 900m, Light winds
Surface crust form over Friday morning at treeline and in the alpine on all aspects. Below treeline expect isothermal/spring snow.
A series of late March/early April crusts are buried down below 30-80 cm of storm snow. This mostly fell as rain below treeline.
The December 1st crust is down 1.5-2m. Large cornices are present through out the park.
As of 1600 Thursday: 2 small sz 1.5 loose moist natural avalanches from N aspects in the treeline along the highway corridor.
Wednesday:
Explosive hand charge testing at treeline on north and east aspects triggered 2 sz 1 avalanches, failing down 15cm below a soft slab.
A natural glide slab avalanche sz 3 was observed west of the rogers pass summit.
