Natural activity is tapering off, but uncertainty remains high. Approach terrain decisions with intention and allow for a margin of error.
A 90-150 cm slab of dense snow now sits atop the persistent mid-pack facet layer from Jan/Feb. There has been a lot of large avalanche activity on this facet layer, and where it is weak and hasn't yet avalanched, triggering it remains a concern.
Up to 25cm of settled storm snow buries previous crusts and winds slabs.. Any significant solar inputs will increase the likelihood of these slabs being triggered.
This problem is driven by air temperature and solar input. The latest storm snow sits on a crust and could slide easily if conditions warm, especially under strong sun. Heat and solar input remain uncertain in the models, so monitor conditions closely at the local level on Tuesday.
No new avalanches observed or reported. It was an overcast day so the loose wet activity that was reported on Sunday was not as big of a factor as it was on Sunday.
15-30 cm of settled storm snow (since Friday) overlays the March 27 rain/temp crust which extends up to 2400m. Surface sun-crusts exist on solar aspects up to ridgetops and temperature-crusts exist at lower elevations on polar aspects. The mid-pack consists of a 50-100cm dense one finger slab which sits over a generally well settled lower pack. In shallow areas the lower pack may be weaker and more facetted.
Unsettled conditions forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday bringing isolated flurries with accumulations up to 10 cm along the divide. A ridge of high pressure builds on Thursday brings clearing and a drying trend.
Winds will be light and freezing levels forecast to be around 1900m on Tuesday.
