Avalanche danger is MODERATE for all elevations and aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper due to a mix of wind slabs, loose wet snow, and wet slabs.
Pockets of wind slab that existed yesterday near treeline and above treeline on N-NE-E aspects received additional loading last night under new snowfall and moderate speed SW winds. Human triggered avalanches with slab thickness of 8 inches to 3 feet remain possible today.
As the day progresses, daytime warming and occasional sun breaks will allow for wet loose avalanches to occur on all aspects and at nearly all elevations. Widespread roller ball activity is expected as new snow falls off of rocks and trees. In some areas these roller balls may progress to loose wet avalanches. Small natural and human triggered loose wet avalanches are possible today on slope 37 degrees and steeper.
Areas that were either directly wind loaded or cross loaded last night and continue to hold an active weak layer may avalanche today under warming conditions. Small to medium size human triggered wet slab avalanches are possible today on NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects in wind effected near treeline and above treeline terrain. An isolated natural wet slab avalanche is unlikely but not impossible today in these same areas.
Observations made yesterday on Incline Lake Peak (Mount Rose backcountry), Mt. Judah (Donner Summit area), Scout Peak (Echo Summit area), South Maggies (Desolation Wilderness area), and on Red Lake Peak (Carson Pass area) revealed a mix of unstable and stable snowpack conditions. On Incline Lake Peak and on Scout Peak, two very small slab avalanches were triggered. On Incline Peak, an intentional cornice collapse onto a test slope triggered a 14 inch deep wind slab that failed 10 feet wide on a near treeline NNE aspect at 9,500'. On Scout Peak a small snowboard triggered wet slab avalanche was triggered near treeline on an ENE aspect at 8,400'. The avalanche measured approximately 20 feet wide and had a 2 foot crown. Skiers descending South Maggies via NE aspect below treeline terrain reported triggering roller balls and pin wheels below 8,000'.
Observations made on Red Lake Peak and on Mt. Judah revealed widespread wet snow conditions with no evidence of instability observed from both formal and informal snowpack assessment.
