Avalanche danger is moderate today at the upper elevations of Douglas Island after almost a foot of new snow yesterday and a couple inches overnight. The majority of the snow came in with light winds but winds out of ESE ramped up overnight and peaked at almost 50 mph. This new storm snow combined with the overnight winds could be reactive to human triggers at the uppermost elevations and at mid elevations wet loose activity could still be a factor. Be wary of steep unsupported slopes near ridgetops especially on NW aspects.
Todays avalnche forecast is made possible by a donation from Simpson Tillinghast Sheehan, P.C. https://www.stsl.com/
The majority of this storm snow came in yesterday and deposited almost a foot of new snow which was warm and wet at mid elevations and relatively dry at the uppermost elevations with only an inch or two overnight. This has given the snowpack some time to heal which should promote bonding but is still barely 24 hours old so could still be reactive to triggering.
Overnight winds increased from moderate to strong at times from the ESE. Max gusts near 50mph were observed late Friday night into Saturday morning. These wind speeds promote wind slab development on leeward slopes and features. With wind slabs being relatively fresh, expect them to be reactive to human triggers. Approach upper elevation N-NW slopes with caution.
A welcome return to wintery conditions for the upper elevations of Douglas Island! Fridays storm snow came in warm and with light to moderate winds. Snow accumulations diminished through Friday afternoon and temps cooled slighty through the evening hours. Winds ramped up to moderate-strong from ESE late Friday night into Saturday morning. Our storm slab will potentially have a highly variable moisture content depending on elevation and may have a thin melt freeze crust lurking within it at mid elevations from yesterdays warm conditions . Winds overnight were strong enough to transport the lighter density storm snow at upper elevations creating fresh wind slabs. Below our storm and wind slab problems, wet grains still persist through much of the snow pack and very little temperature gradient exists throughout the snow layers. While storm slab and wind slabs are the main avalanche problems of concern, riders should stay aware of the potenial for wet loose problems at mid-lower elevations if temps warm higher through the day than currently forecasted.
