The snowpack in Rogers Pass is significantly different at higher elevations than in the valley bottom. Be aware of the changing conditions as you ascend into the Alpine.
20+cm of warm snow blanketed the region last night. This sits atop various surfaces (crust, previous wind slabs) and may be triggered by skiers/boarders. Use caution as you enter leeward facing lines, especially if the storm slab sits on a crust.
Watch for moist/wet avalanches, especially on steeper slopes, during rainfall events or warmer daytime periods.
Unsettled wx through Thurs with isolated flurries. Diurnal pattern of overnight cooling and freezing levels (FZL) rising during the day.
Tonight: Mainly cloudy, isolated flurries, Alp low -8*C, FZL 800m, mod SW wind
Wed: Sun/cloud, Alp high -6*C, FZL 1500m, light/mod SW wind
Thurs: Mix of sun/cloud, Alp high -4*C, FZL 1800m, light W wind
There are 2 distinct snowpacks at the moment. Below 2000m exists a firm Spring-time melt-freeze snowpack that is solid in the am, then breaking down with daytime warming. Above 2000m, a winter snowpack dominates, with 20cm of new snow atop various older surfaces (melt-freeze crust, wind slab, or dry powder on high, sheltered, N'ly slopes).
Several moist natural avalanches to sz 2.5 were observed on Avalanche Crest Monday night, roughly starting at 1900m.
