Expect small loose wet avalanches to occur shortly after the sun comes out and warms the new snow.
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy / Light, northeasterly winds / Alpine low 2 C / Freezing level 1400 m.FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light, northwesterly winds / Alpine high 4 C / Freezing level 1500 m.SATURDAY: Snow; 15-25 cm. / Moderate, southwesterly winds / Alpine high 0 C / Freezing level 1100 m.SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy / Light, westerly winds / Alpine high 0 C / Freezing level 1000 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
10-15 mm. of precipitation on Wednesday 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. Below 1200 m, the snowpack is rapidly disappearing. 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.
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.