Storm total amounts from the 4/4-6 system have been observed in the 6-10 inch range with 10-14 inches at upper elevations and glaciated areas just beyond the Thompson Pass road corridor.  On 4/7 this new snow was observed to have very little to no slab character (uncohesive) outside of wind channeled terrain, with good stability observed.  In more wind channeled terrain southwest storm wind had formed a more cohesive slab.  In these locations several small (D1) human triggered avalanches were observed.  Today expect for the new snow to have settled some, which will give snow at the surface more cohesion.  The affect of this will be that human triggered avalanches up to 1 foot in depth will remain a possibility today especially in steep convex, or wind loaded terrain.  Areas that only saw sluffing in steep terrain yesterday may see the potential for human triggered storm slabs as the new snow settles and stiffens.

 Continued assesment of the bonding, depth and sensitivity of the new snow is recommended for safe travel in avalanche terrain.  Test the sensitivity of new snow using small inconsequential test slopes and hand shear tests.  Pay attention to red flags such as shooting cracks that would indicate that there is a slab in place, and that slab has the potential energy to produce an avalanche.

Wet loose activity is likely today.  New snow will easily be affected by the strong April sun.  Expect for steep solar aspects to have natural wet loose activity.  East aspects will be the first to be affected moving to south and then finally west.  Clouds are forecasted to roll in later in the day which could limit the amount of activity that we see today.  

The spring shed has been minimal so far this year at mid and upper elevations.  Activity is forecasted to increase in the coming days as warmer temps move into upper elevations and new snow continues to slowly accumulate.  

Timing is key in avoidance of this avalanche problem.  Pay attention to the amount of warmth that is being transferred into the snow surface (Is it becoming moist-wet?).  In general, it is recommended to avoid traveling on or being exposed to steep solar aspects, especially during the heat of the day.

Persistent weak layers in our snowpack have been dormant in our forecast area for ~10 days.  The new snow we are currently receiving is unlikely to tip this balance.  There is the potential for weak layers in our mid snowpack to reactivate later in the spring as solar radiation becomes more intense or if we enter a period where heavy precipitation returns.  At the present instabilities are concentrated near the surface and triggering a persistent slab avalanche is unlikely.

Weak snow exists at the base of our snowpack.  This weak snow is currently unlikely to be affected due to the strength of old wind affected snow at the 3/17 new/old interface.  Depth hoar may become a concern later in the season if our area returns to a period of major snowfall and the very strong wind damaged layer at the new/old interface starts to break down and lose strength within the snowpack.  As very hard wind slabs break down within the snowpack a person or machines weight will have a more direct affect on weak layers at the bottom of the snowpack.  In addition,  the increasing intensity of the sun will be putting pressure on deep layers during the heat of the day.

This problem is difficult to assess.  if we do see deep slab avalanches begin to occur in our forecast zone, they will likely first show up on south aspects.  This has not occurred yet, but would be a clear indicator of an increasing potential to see this avalanche problem on other aspects.