Any appearance of the strong April sun can initiate a loose wet avalanche cycle. The likelihood of loose wet avalanches increases as temperatures warm through the day and/or if the sun comes out for a prolonged period of time.
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY NIGHT: Cloudy / Light, westerly winds / Alpine low -2 C / Freezing level 800 m.MONDAY: Mostly sunny / Light, southwesterly winds / Alpine high 4 C / Freezing level 1500 m.TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries; 0-3 mm. / Light to moderate, southwesterly winds / Alpine high 4 C / Freezing level 1400 m.WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries; 0-3 mm. / Light to moderate, westerly winds / Alpine high 5 C / Freezing level 1600 m
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday, numerous small (size 1) skier triggered storm slab avalanches were reported.
Snowpack Summary
15-20 mm. of precipitation on Saturday fell as moist snow at treeline and rain below which sits on a melt freeze crust. Warm temperatures and wet precipitation are producing a moist, spring snowpack. The snowpack depth decreases rapidly below 1200 m.
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.
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.