Avalanche Advisory for Monday, April 16, 2018
Rain, which could be heavy today, will make wet slabs today’s primary avalanche problem. Today’s precipitation type will be the primary driver of instability in the snowpack. If we receive more plain rain, wetting and warming will decrease stability through the day. A greater proportion of frozen mixed precipitation will have a lesser impact on the stability of our currently refrozen and stable snowpack. Today’s Moderate rating is distinctly different than Moderate ratings issued a week ago. Last week, new snow and wind made small avalanches possible in a number of areas. Avalanches were much more likely and much smaller than the large avalanches which are possible but less likely today. It’s a low probability and high consequence kind of day. If the weather doesn’t keep you out of the mountains, be mindful that though natural avalanches are unlikely today, they could be large and run a great distance.