Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading, Rapid Warming, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Wind Loading on Leaward Slopes was occurring in the Alpine today, and shallow Soft Slabs were observed. MInimal Cracking was also observed. Poor Snowpack Structure continues to be observed in the Mid Elevations where the Snowpack is damp from 12 inches to 24 inches down. No Collapsing observed in areas traveled, yet reports from other observers indicate this possibility exists on Northerly facing terrain in the mid elevations where the snowpack has not fully transitioned into a Spring/Summer Pack. Widespread Wet Loose Avalanches and roller balls observed in Sun exposed terrain and mainly on East and South aspects.</p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Wind Slabs up to 12 inches deep observed. The new snow from overnight had significant amounts of graupel in it, and this served as a potentially reactive weak layer with todays denser new snow and wind loading creating isolated slabs. These slabs were only observed in the upper Alpine on S and SE facing slopes. </p> <p>Any periods of direct sunshine will promote the possibility of Loose Wet Avalanches in the new snow layers. </p> <p>Wet Slabs in the Mid Elevation terrain that has a saturated snowpack remains a possibility. Probing down to lower layer and checking for wet grains in the steeper terrain may be advisable. </p> <p>The Hazard today appeared to be mostly Low with Isolated areas of Moderate in the Steeper terrain that was getting damp/wet. Possibly the same for Wednesday. </p>
One inch overnight with a quick two inches falling between 0700 and 0830. Another squall occurred around 1400 with at least two inches falling in less than an hour. Total Snowfall since Monday evening and through the daytime hours appeared to be at least 6 inches in terrain above 9600. Cold creamy powder riding was very good on Northerly aspects with slope angles of 30 degrees and greater above 9600. There was a friable/crumbly one inch M/F Crust on the Northerly aspects on these same slopes with angles of 30 degrees and greater. This crust provided a spongy turning base. And, on the Northerly aspects from 9900 feet and above the Storm Totals that have been adding up since Sunday, and are now up to 16 settled inches where the cold snow is still lingering. The warm temperatures and sun on Monday allowed the new snow to become settled out significantly, and as a result riding was based up and very supportable on all aspects all the way down to 8700 feet at the Brighton Base. The settled out new couple of inches in the mid elevations provided good turning.
All Slopes and aspects with angles 25 degrees and less got damp today due to the warm temperatures and brief sunshine.