Storm Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 1–2
The snow dances are working. Snow showers began yesterday and as of 5 am Independence Mine Snotel is reporting between 4 and 6 inches of new snow and about 0.3 inches of snow water equivalent. Snow is expected to continue throughout the day today before diminishing this evening. While the forecast spread is high, another 4-8 inches of new snow is likely throughout the day today, with an outside chance of 8-12 inches. Confidence in the snowfall and weather forecast is not high, but it won't take much more snow or wind to create instabilities between the new snow and old frozen surfaces, especially on upper-elevation north-facing slopes where smooth, old wind slabs are being buried.
Today, expect to encounter both dry-loose and shallow soft slab instabilities where new snow is accumulating on old smooth surfaces. On southerly aspects, this new snow is falling on a mix of scoured rocks, ice, crusts, and summer surface. Here, the biggest hazard will be the thin snow cover and early season conditions.
Riding conditions will be improving throughout the day today but visibility will remain limited until the storm diminishes. Use caution if you're headed out today as new snow instabilities will be greatest before beginning to settle out tomorrow. Soft-slabs and dry-loose avalanches are generally easier to manage than deep or hard-slab problems but still require caution and respect as new snow can move fast and entrain as it moves down the slope. Practice safe travel protocol, ski one at a time and avoid terrain traps like gullies where debris can accumulate.