Increasing clouds slowing today’s warmup

Avalanches: One fresh D2 wet loose avalanche in the past 48 hours, perhaps a few new smaller ones as well.  The D2 started at about 12,000ft on the south side of Mt Owen, and gouged down to the ground in a thin, rocky area. Probably failed around 3/18.
Weather: Increasing clouds through out the day, becoming mostly cloudy. Moderate westerly winds at ridgeline.
Snowpack: Snow surfaces stayed relatively cooler today thanks to increased clouds and wind. More variable snow surfaces in the alpine. All forms of wind effect, buffed, scraped or sculpted into ugly things. Sun crusts yep, and even some elusive decomposed soft snow surfaces.

On an East aspect around 12,600ft the wetting front had only made it down about 15-20cm’s with dry snow below. In the afternoon, the surface crusts broke down on steeper or rockier easterly slopes despite the cloudy skies.

Northwesterly aspects stayed cold with smooth wind polished or textured faceted snow surfaces.