Start and finish your day early. Warm temperature and sunshine will increase the likelihood of avalanche activity, especially on steep slopes that are baking in the sun.
A conservative approach to terrain is a great way to ease into your day while assessing along the way.
Springtime cornices are large and unpredictable. The sunshine can pack a punch and lead to cornice failures. Give them a wide berth when travelling at ridge crest and avoid overhead exposure.
Up to 30 cm of new storm snow has accumulated throughout the region building fresh storm slabs. The slabs will be most reactive where they overlie a crust and when the sun heats up the upper snowpack.
Moderate to strong southwest wind has redistributed the new snow forming wind slabs in lee terrain features in the alpine and at treeline.
Sun and warm temperatures will weaken the snow surface on sun-exposed slopes, creating wet avalanches. Watch for wet and heavy snow and be aware of overhead exposure to big sunny slopes.
Wet loose avalanches could trigger deeper wet slabs.
Wednesday: A mix of sun and cloud with strong solar input and light ridgetop wind from the southwest. Freezing level 1700 m and alpine temperatures near -4 C.
Thursday: WARM. Freezing levels rise to 3000 m with no overnight freeze. Alpine temperatures +3C and ridgetop wind moderate from the southwest.
Friday: Cloudy and warm with up to 10 cm of new snow. No overnight freeze and freezing levels remain near 2500 m with alpine temperatures near +3C. Freezing levels should drop to 1400 m by Saturday with alpine temperatures near -10 C.
Sunday night's storm showed evidence of a widespread natural avalanche cycle up to size 3 on Monday with the average storm/ wind slabs reported to size 2. They mostly failed in the recent storm snow. Some larger avalanches may have failed on the end of March melt-freeze crust.
Avalanche hazard will likely spike on Wednesday with sunshine and the effects of solar radiation on the recent storm snow.
Wednesdays' sun and warming will likely create moist/ wet surface snow on all aspects up to 1500 m and to the mountain top on southerly slopes.
15 to 30 cm of recent storm snow has buried multiple crusts in the upper snowpack. Moderate to strong west/ southwest wind will be redistributing the new storm snow in exposed high elevation terrain forming touchy wind slabs and developing large cornices.
The new snow brings 50-70 cm above will a crust from late March. The amount of snow on the crust tapers rapidly at lower elevations. This crust is present on all aspects up to an elevation of 2500 m. Below the crust, the snow is moist.
The early-December rain crust is approximately a metre off the ground. Large slab avalanches failed on this interface last week following a rain and warming event. This layer may be dormant now due to colder weather, however, it may appear again during the next big warm-up or with increased load from wind, snow and/or rain.
