Gudauri

Strong SW and S winds built dense, reactive slabs near ridges, which if triggered could also trigger older layers.

Weak facet layers in the lower half of the snowpack, in high alpine shady areas, could create a very large avalanche event if triggered. The extra weight of recent snow, as well as recent warm period, makes these avalanches more likely. Try to minimise your exposure to large paths, and avoid common trigger points such as areas near rocks or steep convex roll-overs. Look out for whumphing, cracking and recent avalanches - these signs tell you the snow is unstable and you should stick to safe terrain only. Avalanches could still be triggered from a distance.

Despite the air temps will stay below 0C overnight and rise only slightly above 0C during the day, most recent and upcoming wet snow will be keeping this danger active in steeper areas. Avoid such steep areas at lower elevations as any snow left could easily move (especially on the underlying crusts that may be created during colder nights)

Recent Avalanches:

Before March 31st: Multiple loose wet slides, most aspects and all elevations, observed last few days, up to size 2. Multiple natural and triggered slab avalanches in high alpine zone, 24th - 27th, N, NE and NW aspects, size 2 to 4.

March 31 - April 3rd: Natural size 2 wet slab - NW slope, 2850 m., multiple other size 2 wet slab avalanches with some of them being as big as size 3 in Kobi valley. Size 3 slab avalanche down the N Sadzele slope.

Snowpack: Recent warm temperatures, greenhouse effect and rain up to high elevations has pumped a lot of heat and water into the snowpack. Total rainfall recorded at 1950m since Monday 31st of March is 40mm Lower than 2500m the snow is disappearing rapidly while higher up the snow is heavily saturated with moisture. Previously, a cohesive, reactive slab had formed above older layers on high alpine shaded areas, with propagating failures found in tests - recent avalanche activity in Kobi and Sadzele areas confirm these findings. Loose snow slides or wet slabs are still likely in most places in the afternoon.

Air temps around 0C with 3-4C mid-day and -2 during the night. Freezing level will stay at 2300 m. during the night and at 2500 m. during the day. No significant winds forecasted at all elevations. Cloudy on saturday and sunday. Light rain to light snow on friday with some more snow on friday and saturday night.