Hard to believe we still have three main problems in the snowpack considering its the end of April. Heads up at higher elevations and keep your winter thinking cap on for a few more days this week.
We have seen some evidence of lingering deeper instabilities in the alpine from various crust and facets layers in April. These have been triggered by cornice falls and wind slabs. Keep checking for these weaknesses in steep alpine features.
40 cm of new snow from the storm and wind on Saturday is forming a slab over a variety of old wind slabs, crusts and facets in the alpine. The likelihood of avalanches is on the way down, but will persist for a few more days.
Any short spells of sun will quickly moisten the surface snow and produce wet sluffs.
Unsettled weather for the week ahead. Expect on again, off again snow showers with temperatures staying cool and the wind remaining out of the north. These kinds of weather patterns can result in some locally deep accumulations, so pay close attention where you travel.
Up to 40cm of snow fell by Sunday morning with more in eastern areas. Strong winds during the storm did some wind loading, but the storm ended calm and cold. While the new snow should settle rapidly, be suspicious of its bond to the old snow and any facets below. Supportive crusts exist below this new snow on solar aspects and at lower elevations.
Some small storm slabs observed on Saturday. Skier controlled small storm slabs in alpine lee areas reported by the local ski areas during control work on Saturday. No new avalanche activity was observed or reported on Sunday.
