Bollettino valanghe

Colder temperatures and cooling winds will keep the snow surface locked up again today and the avalanche hazard low.  Wet, loose avalanche activity will take a break as a cold front makes its way across the West Central Mountains bringing the possibility of light accumulations of snow today.  Watch for shallow wind slabs on steep, wind-exposed terrain.  If sunny slopes begin to warm later in the afternoon, we may see some shallow wet loose activity in the new snow, otherwise expect firm, fast touring conditions with just a dusting of soft snow on most slopes. Have a safe spring!

This is the last  PAC update for the season.  PAC would like to extend a thank you to all of the folks that submitted observations and helped us dial in our new website.  We would also like to thank the Friends for helping provide funding to maintain our weather stations, snowmobiles, and website.  We encourage you to help them support avalanche forecasting in the West Central Mountains by clicking the green donate button on the menu bar.  

Thanks- PAC forecast team

Spring in the mountains is a fickle beast.  Spring is a back and forth fight between, sun-filled days of perfect corn skiing conditions and brief returns to wintry conditions. Yesterday was spring, today will be more like winter.  The melt-freeze crust was locked up tight yesterday enough so that poles and shovels could not penetrate it.  By mid-afternoon, the new snow was creamy and the crust underneath was beginning to soften and made for some great skiing.    By 3 pm the snow was soft enough to get a good edge on snowmobiles and keep your machine cool.  Based on the cooler temperatures, wind, and cloudy skies today, I would not expect to see much in the way of softening until very late in the afternoon.

 Based on the decrease in daytime highs from earlier this week, you can expect the crust to remain firm and slick through the day today and later tomorrow.  Sledders probably won't find much to interest them today but skiers might be able to find some good low-angle turns.   Avalanche hazard will remain low throughout the day today with warming occurring only on the most southerly slopes.  SW and W slopes may see some shallow wet, loose activity in the new snow layer later in the day.  Winds this week have been gusting into the mid 20 mph range and laid down some shallow wind slabs on upper elevation, wind exposed terrain.   

Remember springtime conditions and low hazard does not mean no hazard.  Spring storms are adding snow above slick crusts and new snow accumulations have a hard time bonding to the old snow below.  As the snowpack begins to warm over the next few weeks and liquid water percolates down through it to old weak layers and crusts, the potential for wet slab avalanches will increase.  In the West Central, this often occurs in late April and early May.  The key to spring skiing and riding is timing,  if you suddenly begin to break through a previously supportable crust, it is time to move to cooler slopes,  or call it a day.  Be safe and enjoy the great spring conditions!