Rain and warming from air temperature will contribute to Wet Loose conditions as it stays above freezing at night. Fresh roller balls falling off trees and off cliff bands indicate that the snowpack near surface is weakening. Avoid steep slopes above terrain traps, cliffs areas and long sustained steep pitches during travel.
Sustained above freezing temperatures and rain added to the snowpack will loosen up the snow surface and could result in small wet loose avalanches in steep terrain. This problem can be avoided by choosing to ski and ride higher in elevation. Overall, the structure and stability of the snowpack is good, but pinwheels and mushy snow are indications that the surface snow is losing cohesion.
Buried surface hoar can still be found below ridges on north facing slopes in the upper elevations bands. This layer is easy to look for as it can be spotted below a thick band of melt freeze crust. Stability tests resulted in no propagation, and the strength of the snowpack is good. We have had varying results with this layer propagating this past week, so if you go searching for the best snow and find yourself on a north facing aspect above 5,800 feet this layer is worth investigating before fully committing to the slope.
Avalanche Technicians Brian and Izzy climbed up to the upper elevations to assess conditions and see if they could hunt down the buried surface hoar that formed late last month and was then preserved. This weak layer is tough to find, but can be found in isolated areas, higher up in elevation on the North side of the compass. Staying true to its name as a persistent weak layer, this buried surface hoar has persisted through rain and significant weather changes. Stability tests resulted in no propagation and the feathers were observed to be small and rounding, indicating that we're trending in the right direction. The snowpack is still low tide for this time of year, but what we lack in snow we make up for in overall stability. Rocks and down trees are a hazard when skiing and riding right now, so to find the best chance for making soft turns head to a north facing slope at upper elevations where the snowpack is the thickest.
Rain accompanied by a light dusting of snow moved in overnight and will continue throughout the day. Little or no snow accumulation is expected up high and will switch entirely to rain in the afternoon. Temperatures will remain above freezing today, tonight and through tomorrow. Warm temperatures and added moisture will loosen up the snowpack surface and has the potential to create a small wet loose problem in steep terrain. Pinwheels gaining size are a good indication that the snows surface is losing cohesion.
