The avalanche danger will increase throughout the day as new snow and wind will conspire to create fresh wind and storm slabs. The avalanche danger could rise to CONSIDERABLE this afternoon at the upper elevations on wind loaded slopes. Pay attention to signs of instability such as cracking within wind drifted snow and upside down storm snow.
Fresh wind slabs that are 1-2 feet thick and soft will develop throughout the day in areas that are leeward of WSW winds.
Look for wind slabs on exposed terrain features such as ridgelines and open slopes near the head of drainage features. Pay attention to signs of instability such as cracking within wind drifted snow.
Soft storm slabs that are sensitive to human triggering will be around 1 foot thick and located throughout the terrain on all aspects at the middle and upper elevations.
Pay attention to signs of upside down snow and monitor the slope angles of the terrain you plan to ski or ride. If the new snow is upside down the trail breaking will feel especially difficult and your snowboarder friends will be having more fun than you.
Dry loose avalanches could pose a threat or potentially trigger storm slabs if snowfall rates excede 1 inch per hour.
Spring is officially here and with that comes changing conditions. As convection plays a larger role in storms we receive, the predictability of the weather drastically goes down. This is that chaos stuff Lorenz was talking about it the 60s (look it up). As the predictability of the weather goes down so does the predictability of avalanches, especially those involving new snow and wind. Snowfall rates will spike this morning while winds will increase this afternoon ahead of a cold front that is scheduled to pass through sometime tonight. So if I had to guess (which is my job) storm slabs will play a bigger role this morning while wind slabs will be on the rise throughout the afternoon.
Recent avalanche activity has involved new storm snow and wind slabs up to size 1.5.
Snow depths are surpassing 3 meters at many locations at the middle and upper elevations throughout the range. The March 20th interface is now buried 1-2 feet deep on most aspects at the upper elevations.
