Be cautious of touchy deposits of new snow around ridges and in lee terrain. If the sun shines or the snowpack turns moist, the likelihood of triggering loose wet avalanches will increase, especially in areas with fresh snow.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Weather Forecast
MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear / southwest wind, 15 km/h / alpine low -2 C / freezing level valley bottomTUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulation / southwest wind, 30-40 km/h / alpine high +2 C / freezing level 1800 mWEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, up to 5 cm snow / southwest wind, 40 gusting to 60 km/h / alpine high +2 C / freezing level 2000 mTHURSDAY: Mainly cloudy with scattered wet flurries, up to 10 cm snow / west wind, 30-45 km/h / alpine high +3 C / freezing level 2200 m
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday a small (size 1) natural storm slab was observed on an east aspect at 2600 m.On Thursday, a couple natural and machine triggered storm slab avalanches 20-40 cm deep and up to size 2.5 were observed on east facing alpine slopes.Last Tuesday, a small (size 1) slab avalanche 30 cm deep was remotely triggered by a skier from 80 m away on a northeast aspect at 2250 m. A layer of small surface hoar below the most recent snow may have been the weak layer. Additionally, several loose wet avalanches up to size 1.5 were triggered on solar aspects throughout the day by strong solar radiation.
Snowpack Summary
20-40 cm fell around the region since Saturday, in the alpine new snow has been redistributed by wind in exposed areas. The new snow accumulated over a melt freeze crust on most aspects. On north-facing terrain above 2000 m, the new snow accumulated over another 20-30 cm wind-affected snow from early April, in isolated areas surface hoar may now be buried 30-65 cm. Older wind slabs sitting on surface hoar might still be sensitive to human triggers. Below treeline snow is disappearing rapidly. Sun and rising freezing levels are warming the snowpack and settling new snow, the likelihood of loose wet avalanches will increase as heat penetrates into the snowpack.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
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.