23-24

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>We’ve got another mostly sunny and really warm spring day on tap. Intermittent clouds may momentarily hit the pause button on melting, but as soon as the sun comes back out, rapid melting will resume.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Hazards associated with wet melting snow are the number one concern and they could take many forms. Loose wet slides will easily triggered as soon as the surface gets wet more than a few inches deep (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/wet-loose-avalanches-argentina-bo…;). The deeper the wetting gets, the larger these slides could be. After two nights with either a minimal refreeze or none at all - the possibility of bigger, deeper, wider, more unpredictable wet slabs is starting to become a reality. I don’t expect them to be widespread today, but I also wouldn’t be surprised to hear that one broke. Cornices have been breaking off, which are a hazard by themselves (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/cornice-collapse-sphinx"><span><s… photo</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>), but they also make great triggers for slab avalanches (as this photo from </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/iceberg-peak-cornice-fall"><span>… Peak</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> demonstrates). Give cornices a wide berth as you’re traveling on ridgelines and minimize your time exposed below them. All of these concerns are greatest during the peak heat of the day, but with a minimal refreeze, warm temps and strong April sun, conditions will likely deteriorate by mid-morning. As soon as you can break through a surface crust into wet snow, or the surface is wet more than 6 inches deep, it’s time to get off steep sunny slopes - whether that means heading home or retreating to shady slopes.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Shady slopes that have stayed dry aren’t entirely immune from avalanche hazard. You may still be able to trigger a wind slab in a wind-loaded pocket or on weak layers in the upper couple feet of the snowpack. A quick snowpit and stability test can help keep you from getting surprised. A falling cornice may even be able to trigger an avalanche on the deeper weak layers which we haven’t seen activity on in weeks.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is MODERATE first thing this morning and will quickly rise to CONSIDERABLE as the day heats up.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>By mid-morning, on sunny slopes, any surface crusts that formed overnight will be breaking down and wet avalanche danger will be rising. Mostly we’re expecting relatively small wet loose slides (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/wet-loose-avalanches-argentina-bo…;), but the whole array of wet snow avalanche concerns are possible today, including wet loose slides entraining the whole season’s snowpack, wet slabs (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/fin-cooke-city"><span><span><span…;), or cornice collapses (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/cornice-collapse-sphinx"><span><s…;).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Clouds may move in this afternoon and strong winds may delay melting in some areas, but spring weather is fickle and neither of those are guarantees of safety. Plan to get off sunny slopes early. Pay attention to the snow surface to know when dangerous conditions have developed on a particular slope. If you’re sinking past your boot tops in wet and slushy snow or you see rollerballs and small wet snow avalanches starting it’s time to move to cooler aspects or return to the trailhead before conditions deteriorate further.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Triggering avalanches in dry snow is becoming less likely, but is still possible, particularly on wind-loaded, high elevation, shady slopes. On Wednesday, skiers in the northern Gallatin Range triggered some wind-loaded pockets breaking 6-8” deep (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31812"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). Watch for shooting cracks as a clear sign that a wind drift hasn’t yet bonded. Before committing to steep slopes take a few minutes to stop, dig and test the upper couple feet of the snowpack to keep from getting surprised. Avalanches breaking deeper are much less likely, but it’s still good to keep the possibility in the back of your mind.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is MODERATE this morning and will quickly rise to CONSIDERABLE as the day heats up.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>