A mild spring-like pattern continues. Avalanche danger will vary depending on aspect, elevation, and time of day. Stay tuned in to signs of instability.
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Tuesday: Cloudy with flurries early, then sun and cloud. The freezing level is around 2000 m. Ridge winds are moderate or strong from the SW, easing in the afternoon. Wednesday: Increasing cloud with showers or flurries late. The freezing level remains near 2000 m and winds increase to strong from the SW. Thursday: Cloudy with flurries. The freezing level should drop to 1600-1800 m and winds remain moderate or strong from the SW.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported in the past few days.
Snowpack Summary
5-15 cm of moist new snow sits on a melt-freeze crust on southerly aspects and lower elevation terrain, surface hoar on sheltered slopes, and wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain. Soft new wind slabs might be hiding older, harder wind slabs on exposed north aspects in the alpine. Cornices have grown significantly recently. In some areas you may find a supportive crust down 30cm that extends up to around 1900m. A layer of buried surface hoar can be found between 40 and 60cm down and remains a concern, primarily west of the Continental Divide. The snowpack rests on a weak crust/facet layer from early December.
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.
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.