Much like the chocolate in your pocket, the snow will be hard and crunchy in the morning and soft and melty after a day in the sun.
Even a small wet loose avalanche can have severe consequences when combined with a terrain trap such as a cliff. Stay aware of your position, as the sun’s effects can be rapid.
On Thursday, a few small storm slab and loose wet avalanches were reported.
Strong solar input and warming temperatures are rapidly changing conditions. Continue to assess conditions as you travel.
If you are heading into the backcountry, consider sharing your observations and posting a MIN.
High daytime temperatures and clear nights have formed a surface crust in some areas and created wet or slushy surface snow in most others. Expect the snow that is being warmed for the first time to be more reactive, especially where it overlays a buried crust.
30–60 cm of new snow has accumulated at treeline and above so far this week.
Steep south through west facing slopes have a thin, breakable crust that is now down close to 25 cm.
The thick and strong mid-March crust is now expected to be buried by 40-70 cm of mostly settled snow, with the deeper areas being found on the north and west island.
Below this, the rest of the snowpack is well settled and strong.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.
Sunday
Sunny. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 8 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.
Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 8 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.
Tuesday
Sunny. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
