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Tuesday and Wednesday will be the last good days in the backcountry before a stormy period starts. The snow quality has been good, with a thin wind-pressed layer of fresh snow - fun times! Loose wet slides are the biggest worry, in sunny areas and low elevations, but there is also a danger of wind slabs in some places. Please report any snow and avalanche observations on our facebook group, or send us a message. A big thanks to our volunteers, supporters and members who are making this forecast possible.
A few new size 1 and 2 loose wet slides from steep rocky areas seen around the area at all elevations.
A few cm of new snow / graupel on Saturday was pushed by strong N winds over the following two days - creating smooth riding conditions but some hard icy patches. Lower down, the snow is becoming unsupportive in the afternoon. In many areas in the high alpine the snowpack is over 200cm, while at lower elevations it is quickly disappearing. Melt-freeze layers are found on sunny areas at all elevations, and all aspects below about 2700m. Many areas have a strong, consolidated snowpack with hard wind deposited layers. In some shallow, shady areas at high elevations, weak snow layers can be found and could be reactive to triggers.
A mix of sun and cloud over the next two days, with more sunshine hours on Wednesday. Light snow possible Tuesday. S winds moderate on Tuesday, becoming strong Wednesday. Freezing level 2450m, lowering to 1700m Wednesday evening as the next snowfall kicks in!
In isolated places on N facing high alpine terrain, weak snow can be found at the ground. Although difficult to trigger, large deep slab avalanches might be possible. Cornice falls or snowmobiles might provide enough weight.
Glide cracks and glide avalanches are active in many areas and can produce large avalanches at any time - it's best to avoid these areas if possible.
A mix of sun and cloud can cause unexpected heating - watch out for the 'greenhouse effect'