East Slopes South

Temperature inversions return on Saturday, but will create little change in avalanche hazard. Carry sharp self-arresting equipment for traveling over hard, icy surfaces. Additionally, low snow coverage has made recreation challenging. Come prepared for it all with good travel techniques.

Some parts of the zone, primarly to the north, experienced sunshine at lower elevations for the first time in weeks on Friday. Other areas remained under a persistent low cloud layer. Saturday will be a return to...normal? High freezing levels and warm air will once again return to middle and upper elevations, while cold air will carry on below. Jury's out if fog will return to areas that cleared on Friday.

None of this will have much of an impact on avalanche hazard. Maybe a glob of snow could fall from a cliff or sagging cornice overhead. Your greatest concern remains long, sliding falls on hard, slick surfaces. Melt-freeze crust formation is widespread, and ice is common, too. Stack the odds in your favor by carrying something sharp and know how to use it: ski/boot crampons, whippets, ice axes, etc. For you sledders, studded tracks maybe?

Observations for the east side of the forecast region are beginning to trickle in that the snowpack on shaded terrain is softening, as the snow transforms into large, weaker grains known as facets. An NWAC Forecaster traveling in the zone on Wednesday found both near-surface and near-crust faceting snow in the upper portion of the snowpack on a northwest aspect. Accounts from the nearby East Central zone have similar findings. While this doesn't really mean anything right now - other than you can find improved skiing and riding conditions on these slopes - these layers could become problematic once buried. 

The already meager snowpack has suffered for the last couple of weeks. There is very little snow across lower elevations and steep south-facing and windward terrain. You’ll find a more meaningful snowpack ranging from 2-3 ft as you move onto north and east aspects. Plan ahead for challenging travel and keep a watchful eye out for exposed obstacles and open creeks.