Be aware of what is above you, and minimize exposure to avalanche terrain during periods of rainfall.
Weather Forecast
Thursday: Cloudy, PM flurries. Ridge wind strong SW. Alpine temps, Low 1, High 3. Freezing level 2500m.Friday: Cloudy, snow/rain starts mid-day (10-20cm). Ridge wind mod-strong SW. Alpine temps, Low -3, High 1. Freezing level 2300m.Saturday: Cloudy, PM flurries. Ridge wind mod-light SW. Alpine temps, Low -8, High -1. Freezing level 2100m.
Snowpack Summary
Moderate to strong SW winds are building isolated pockets of wind slab. Incoming snow Friday will not likely bond well to previous crusty surfaces, as the snow transitions to rain expect the upper snowpack to lose cohesion quickly. The midpack is well settled and strong. Basal facets persist in some areas, but have been unreactive since mid-March.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous natural loose wet avalanches were observed on solar aspects Tuesday. Ski cutting on Tuesday also produced loose dry avalanches on North aspects at Treeline.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
Problems
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.
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.
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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.