We issued a General Avalanche Information product this morning. Twice weekly General Avalanche Information products will continue through April.
Your chance of triggering a slab avalanche will increase on Friday afternoon as a storm builds sensitive slabs of wind-drifted snow. This problem will be most pronounced in the White Clouds, Boulders, and Pioneers where storm impacts are greatest. Slabs will be thicker and more widespread as you climb into windier, alpine terrain.
As skies clear the hot sun will peel fresh snow from steep slopes. This commonly occurs on rocky slopes that are sheltered from the wind and receive direct sunlight. Some of these wet avalanches have the potential to gouge deeper into wet snow as they move downslope. Avoid steep slopes where you can easily punch your sled track or ski pole deep into a wet snowpack.
Are you interested in driving the development of future avalanche forecast products? Simon Fraser University is collaborating with US avalanche centers to better understand how useful avalanche forecast information is for trip planning. Click here to participate in a 20 minute survey.