Banner Summit

Clear skies and warm sun will cause natural wet loose avalanches. Expect avalanche activity to begin on E and SE facing slopes and follow the sun through the southern sky, ending on W and NW facing slopes this afternoon. Although many of these will start small, they have the potential to become large and destructive if they gouge into a wet snowpack.

Wet loose avalanches often initiate near the base of trees, rocks, and cliffs. Although slow-moving, these avalanches are surprisingly powerful and difficult to escape. Large relief or channeled terrain can increase the size and consequence of being caught. Roller balls or small sluffs are clues that the snow surface is heating up, and wet loose slides may follow. 

The most recent storm, which ended on Thursday, formed drifts and slabs at upper elevations.  Although now a few days old, some sensitive slabs could still be lingering on steep, exposed upper-elevation slopes. 

Look for this problem near and just below exposed ridgelines and along cross-loaded mid-slope gullies. Recent cornice growth, pillows, and dunes are all clues that wind was at work moving snow.  Cracking in the snow surface is a sure indication that you've found a sensitive slab. You can reduce your odds of triggering a wind slab by sticking to more wind-sheltered slopes with soft powder at the surface. 

Additional Discussion - Storm Slabs: Today's warm sun will rapidly consolidate recent dry powder into a heavier and potentially sensitive slab. Overcast skies yesterday morning likely did little to consolidate snow surfaces on E-NE facing slopes. Today will be the first day that the new snow on these aspects will see direct sunlight. Watch for cracking/ collapsing on slopes that are still holding dry powder and are now being exposed to the sun for the first time.