Minimize exposure to steep slopes as temperatures warm through the day, especially in areas with fresh snow.
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY NIGHT - Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace to 6 cm accumulation / southwest wind, 15-35 km/h / alpine low temperature -3 C / freezing level 1700 m THURSDAY - Cloudy with sunny breaks and isolated flurries, trace accumulation / west wind, 15-30 km/h / alpine high temperature -1 C / freezing level 2000 m FRIDAY - Cloudy with scattered flurries, 5-7 cm accumulation / southwest wind, 20 gusting to 65 km/h / alpine high temperature +1 C / freezing level 2100 mSATURDAY - Cloudy with scattered flurries, trace to 5 cm accumulation / southwest wind, 20 gusting to 70 km/h / alpine high temperature +1 C / freezing level 1900 m
Avalanche Summary
The chances of loose avalanches will increase as the sun comes out or as temperatures rise, especially in areas with fresh snow.On Monday, small (small 1-1.5) loose-dry and loose-wet avalanches were reported with the accumulated snowfall as well as two small (size 1-1.5) storm slab avalanches triggered with explosives. On Tuesday, snowballing was observed in steep terrain.
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack on sun-exposed slopes in the alpine and all aspects at treeline and below is moist or wet during the heat of the day, especially under direct sun. Isolated dry snow persists on north-facing alpine terrain, with up to 20 cm loose snow over a cold, dry snowpack.Lower down in the snowpack, the base is composed of weak facets (sugary snow). In areas that remained more sheltered from the heat (like north-alpine), human triggering of persistent slabs on this layer may still be possible; especially in rocky alpine terrain with a shallow or highly variable depth snowpack.With spring conditions, the avalanche hazard will fluctuate greatly depending on the strength of the overnight freeze and how quickly the snowpack is warmed up each day.
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.