This is the last Avalanche Bulletin of the season.Avalanche Danger will be HIGH during times of intense solar radiation, warm temperatures and/or rain.
Weather Forecast
Warm and sunny conditions are expected this weekend. This will lead to a significant increase in avalanche hazard during the heat of the days. An avalanche cycle is expected, particularly on solar aspects.
Avalanche Summary
Isolated slab activity up to size 2.0 continues in alpine and treeline areas on N and E aspects. Loose wet slides are anticipated as solar radiation and daytime heating increase. Cornices failures are also possible during warm periods.
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack is still in transition to spring conditions. At higher elevations wind slabs are still present in lee and cross-loaded features. Numerous layers of crust exist in the snowpack, and these will melt and re-form each day with the daily temperature and solar radiation swings. Cornices are a real concern during warmer periods, and cornice failures could entrain significant snow on slopes below especially when the snowpack is warm. Isothermal conditions will become more prevalent as the season progresses, making for difficult travel and potentially hazardous conditions.
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.