Both wet flurries and rising temperatures can warm the snowpack and increase the likelihood for loose wet avalanches, especially in areas with fresh snow
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Weather Forecast
MONDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with isolated wet flurries, 5-10 cm / west-northwest wind, 10-25 km/h / treeline temperature +2 C / freezing level 1300 mTUESDAY: Mostly cloudy / west-northwest wind, 10-30 km/h / treeline temperature +2 C / freezing level 1500 mWEDNESDAY: Snow, 25-30 cm accumulation / southwest wind, 20 gusting to 40 km/h / treeline temperature +2 C / freezing level 1300 mTHURSDAY: Cloudy with isolated wet flurries, trace to 5 cm / southwest wind, 10 gusting to 40 km/h / treeline temperature +1 C / freezing level 1600 m
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported in the region. 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, especially in areas with fresh snow.
Snowpack Summary
Rain and snow over the weekend have amalgamated with the snowpack and warm temperatures through the day are producing a moist snowpack. Below, 1200 m the snow is melting rapidly.
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.