Regions
Northwest Inland.
Minimize exposure to steep slopes as temperatures warm through the day, especially in areas with fresh snow.
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY NIGHT- Cloudy with isolated flurries, up to 5 cm / south wind, 20-45 km/h / alpine low temperature -2 C / freezing level 1300 m FRIDAY - Scattered flurries, 5 cm accumulation / southeast wind, 20-35 km/h / alpine high temperature +1 C / freezing level 1700 mSATURDAY - Sun, cloud, and isolated flurries / south wind, 30 gusting to 65 km/h / alpine high temperature 0 C / freezing level 1400 mSUNDAY - Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, up to 5 cm accumulation / south wind 20 gusting to 75 km/h / alpine high temperature -1 C / freezing level 1400 m
Avalanche Summary
There have been no recent avalanche observations in the forecast region.
Snowpack Summary
Sun exposed slopes in the alpine and all aspects at treeline and below have become moist to wet during the heat of the day. In these areas, spring conditions are in effect; the avalanche hazard will fluctuate greatly depending on the strength of the overnight freeze and how quickly the snowpack is warmed up each day. Dry snow may still be found on north-facing slopes in the alpine. At these locations, 30-50 cm of well settled snow overlies a layer of facets (sugary snow) that was buried around March 10th.
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.