Minimize exposure to steep slopes as temperatures warm through the day, especially in areas with fresh snow.
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY NIGHT - Cloudy with clear periods and isolated flurries / southeast wind, 10-20 km/h / alpine low temperature -2 C / freezing level 1600 m FRIDAY - Wet flurries, trace to 10 cm accumulation / southwest wind, 15-30 km/h / alpine high temperature +2 C / freezing level 2100 mSATURDAY - Cloudy with isolated flurries, 5 cm accumulation / southwest wind, 15-35 km/h / alpine high temperature 0 C / freezing level 1800 mSUNDAY - Cloudy with scattered flurries, 5-10 cm accumulation / southwest wind, 35 gusting to 80 km/h / alpine high temperature -1 C / freezing level 2000 m
Avalanche Summary
There have been no recent avalanche observations in the forecast region.
Snowpack Summary
Wet flurries and rain have sprinkled a spring snowpack. During the heat of the day and especially under direct sun, the snowpack has become moist or wet except for sheltered north-facing alpine areas. 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.Steep, north facing alpine terrain, may still hold a cold, dry snowpack where well settled slab sits over weak facets (sugary snow). 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.
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.