Recent northeast winds have created wind slabs 2-8 inches deep that were reported and observed as reactive on lee aspects (SE-NW) on 4/1.  Wind slab sensitivity will be decreasing as time goes on.  On 4/2, human triggered avalanches remain possible in specific locations, especially on the lee side of high elevation ridge lines and cross loaded terrain.  Pay attention to wind distribution patterns, the depth of slabs and their sensitivity in the area you choose to travel.  Small wind loaded test slopes are a great way to test the sensitivity of wind slabs at the surface.

Surface hoar that was buried on 3/30 has been reported as existing in isolated locations.  In one location on 3/31 this layer was reported as being reactive in upper elevations of the Maritime climate zone, while other areas showed better stability.  The 3/30 buried surface hoar layer is expected to be spotty or isolated in its distribution.  This can create the potentially dangerous set up where a group can be lured into complacency as good stability is encountered in some areas, while slopes in close proximity could harbor a persistent weak layer.    Incremental snowfall looks likely mid next week which will be adding stress to this layer.  This layer has the possibility of existing at mid-upper elevations on northerly aspects.

Other faceted weak layers exist in our mid snowpack, although these have become dormant over the last 10 days as no major loading events have occurred since the 3/25 wind event.  The most likely area to trigger a persistent slab avalanche will be in the Continental zone, where a more faceted snowpack exists.

Persistent weak layers have the potential to reactivate later in the season if we return to a period of heavy precipitation and/or the suns energy begins to penetrate deeper into the snowpack.

Wet loose activity will be limited today due to clouds and wind keeping the solar aspects cooler.  Clouds during the first half of the day will limit the amount of time the suns energy can melt snow at the surface.  Once the sun comes out this afternoon, the possibility to see wet loose activity will be increasing.  Todays activity is expected to be low volume and less widespread.

The size of the terrain being exposed will directly correlate to the size of natural activity that is possible.  Small slopes will likely only produce roller balls and low volume wet loose activity.  While large steep solar aspects have the potential of entraining significant amounts of snow and producing very dangerous, large wet loose avalanches.  Steep areas near rocks will be the first to warm up during the day.  Step downs to slab activity will become increasingly possible as the Spring moves on and the sun becomes more intense.  

Assesment and avoidance of this avalanche problem is relatively easy.  Pay attention to the amount of warmth that is being transferred into the snow surface (Is it becoming moist-wet?).  Avoid traveling on or being exposed to steep south aspects where the surface snow is becoming moist-wet during the heat of the day.

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.