Step back into conservative terrain as rising temperatures and sunshine weaken the snowpack.
Avoid overhead exposure to cornices, and steep south facing slopes in the heat of the day
It remains possible to trigger avalanches on buried weak layers, particularly where they are shallow in the snowpack and/or do not have a thick crust above them.
Rising temperatures and strong sunshine will increase potential for wet avalanches. Warming will be most intense on steep south facing slopes, especially near rocks.
No new avalanches were reported Wednesday.
Recent activity has been limited to size 2 cornice falls and a few wet loose avalanches. The only notable persistent slab in the past two weeks was rider-triggered near Wasa on Apr 11.
With rapid warming expected, avalanche activity is likely to increase.
About 5 cm of recent snow sits above a hard melt-freeze crust on northerly alpine slopes. Elsewhere, the snow surface is expected to become moist from sun and warm temperatures.
The bottom half of the snowpack is generally weak and faceted. The snowpack at lower elevations is melting rapidly.
Thursday Night
Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level drops to 500 m.
Friday
Clear skies. 10 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +5 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with flurries. 10 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2100 m.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. Light and variable wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
