Spring skiing is here. Early starts and early finishes are crucial to playing safe! Although supportive in the morning, the upper snowpack is moist and will breakdown quickly with daytime warming.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Another glorious morning at Rogers Pass that promises to be a beauty day. Mostly sunny this morning with clouds building this afternoon with the potential for isolated showers. Freezing levels up to 2300m with SW ridge wind 15kph gusting to 40.A temperature inversion is in place and temps were well above freezing all night in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
We experienced a solid freeze in the valley bottom overnight but a temp inversion kept the alpine temps above zero overnight. The clear windy night will have created a thin surface crust but this will break down quickly with daytime heating & sun. Recent winds have likely redistributed remaining dry snow in the alpine leaving touchy wind slabs
Avalanche Summary
We have been experiencing regular natural avalanche cycles in the afternoon associated with daytime warming and the strong effects of the sun. Avalanches have been in the sz 1.5 - 2.5 range and either loose or wet slab releases. Sporadic glide crack releases have been witnessed every few days and are destructive and tricky to forecast.
Confidence
