Isolated wind slabs may be found up high. Continue to assess the surface snow and expect loose wet activity if the snow is moist or wet.
Recent snow has been redistributed by southwest wind in exposed alpine areas. The most suspect slopes are terrain features immediately adjacent to ridges.
The snow surface will weaken rapidly when clear skies prevail and the day heats up. This will quickly increasing the likelihood of triggering loose wet avalanches, particularly on sun-exposed slopes.
Recent snowfall amounts are variable across the region, ranging from 10 to 30 cm, with the most on the west side of the region. This snow has remained dry in northerly alpine terrain. All other aspects and elevation bands will have either wet surface snow or a melt-freeze crust due to an increasing freezing level and heat from the sun.
Weak and sugary faceted grains remain at the bottom of the snowpack in the alpine, producing a low likelihood but high consequence scenario. Steep, rocky areas with a shallow snowpack are the most likely places to trigger this layer.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy with isolated flurries, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, moderate west wind, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 1700 m.
WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulation, moderate to strong west wind, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level 1900 m.
THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulation, light to moderate southwest wind, alpine temperature 0 C, freezing level 2400 m.
FRIDAY: Cloudy with rain, accumulation 10 mm, light to moderate southwest wind, alpine temperature 1 C, freezing level 2500 m.
A few small storm slab avalanches were triggered by skiers and explosives on Monday. They were mostly in alpine terrain, around 30 cm deep, and on west, north, and northeast aspects.
