Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading, Rapid Warming, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>The widespread activity and reactive new snow observed over the weekend appears to have settled out significantly. The residual heat from the intense warming since Friday appeared to have been venting out and helping the direct bonding to the rain crust. That being said, there is still an easy shear 2 cm up from the rain crust in loose graupel, and there is a soft slab of varying thicknesses above this layer up to the surface. Small soft wind slabs were also observed on exposed loaded east and northeast facing ridgelines.</p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>On steep slopes that either have and or retain cold snow, Loose Dry Avalanches will be an issue today. </p> <p>On steep slopes on east, south, and west facing slopes the intense April solar will help initiate <strong>Wet Loose Avalanches</strong> today; and the slick crusts on all aspects will allow for these avalanches to entrain snow and build up large debris piles. In high consequence terrain this will be an issue of concern. </p> <p>The forecast for a return on Tuesday and Wednesday to excessive daytime highs, and overnight lows above freezing, may send us back to Wet Slab Avalanche Problem concerns. </p> <p>Slide for life potential is a distinct possibility on all steep slopes due to the slick crusts. </p>
Two more inches of lighter density snow overnight to cap the 5 to 7 inches from the past 36 hours. Excellent riding on moderate and low angle slopes in the dense snow that has fallen over the weekend. Steeper slopes still scratchy. Rain Crust up to 10 k, but the graupel and dense snow helped keep you riding in soft creamy turning conditions. At 0900 the April sun had not yet dampened the surface snow.