6 inches of uncohesive (no slab) snow was observed at 4000′ on 4/5 near The Books.  Storm totals of 8-12 inches are expected by this evening as light precipitation continues.  New snow instabilities may exist in the short term as new snow attempts to bond with the underlying snowpack.  Light winds, and relatively mild temperatures at upper elevations (low 20’s) should promote bonding in the future.  Today, sensitivity at the surface will largely depend upon the amount of wind the new snow has encountered.  In many areas this new snow has not had time to develop a slab, instabilities will exist in specific areas.  These include, steep convex terrain and areas where the new snow has been stiffened by wind.  Pay attention to the depth and sensitivity of new snow in the area you choose to travel.  Sensitivity can be assessed through small test slopes and hand shear tests.  The hazard will be Considerable in areas where more than 12 inches of snow has fallen.

Wet loose avalanche activity is expected if the sun comes out later in the day.  New snow will be easily affected by solar radiation making wet loose activity likely if the sun makes an appearance today.  

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 solar aspects where the surface snow is becoming moist-wet 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.