Watch for transitions in the snow and stay aware of changes in the weather. Snow and wind can quickly form touchy windslabs. Mild temperatures will stiffen the snow into a slab and weaken bonds over crusts, causing a higher chance of wide propagation
Weather Forecast
Today, moderate SW winds accompanied by moderate snowfall will be loading lee slopes and forming windslabs in exposed treeline and alpine areas. Temperatures below treeline will be mild and new snow overlying Sunday's newly formed crust may have a poor bond. 30 cm of new snow is forecast by Thursday morning. Expect unsettled weather until Friday.
Snowpack Summary
Spring crusts are stacking up: March 27 CR down 10cm, March 19 CR down 35cm, March 16 CR down 60cm. These layers are potential sliding surfaces as loose wet or moist slab avalanches. Windslabs on lee slopes will be a major concern today, watch for cracking/shearing. PWL's are Feb 19 CR down 150cm, Nov facets/crust are at the base of the snowpack
Avalanche Summary
Yesterday, several loose moist avalanches to size 1.5 - 2.0 were observed later in the afternoon on Avalanche Crest. Activity is expected to pick up with last nights 5-10cm of new snow adding to 30cm of storm snow and forecast moderate to strong south winds. Expect loose dry, and lee slope windslabs avalanching out of steep alpine terrain.
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.