New snow on a thick crust means new snow avalanches are possible. It is still possible to trigger an avalanche breaking 2-3' down in the snowpack. You are most likely to encounter these overlapping avalanche problems from 4000'-6000'. Avoiding terrain steeper than 30 degrees is advised.
This forecast is sponsored by Brooks Painting.
6" of new snow on top of a thick crust is the perfect recipe for a storm slab avalanche. Watch for cracking within the new snow as this is a sign of a storm slab avalanche. You can dig down to the crust to test the bond between the crust and new snow. If the new snow easily slides off the crust, be wary of that happening on a larger scale.
Storm slab avalanche.
We are still finding poor snowpack structure in the Blues, although it is unlikely you would trigger a persistent slab, it is not impossible. Triggering one of these slides would have serious consequences. The November/December facets are capped by a thick crust, rounded, moist, and beginning to bond but are still substantially weaker than the snow above and below them. This creates the recipe for an avalanche. Snowpack tests on 2/7 confirm this.
6" of new snow on a thick crust creates the possibility of storm slabs and dry loose avalanches. Be on the lookout for these where new snow has accumulated on slopes steeper than 30 degrees.
(2/7/2024)
Column failed 100cm down where the saw is stuck in the snow.
Photo: Nick Burks
The Blues finally had a week of mostly below-freezing temperatures. A thick crust has formed. That thick crust is now covered by 6" of new snow. Unfortunately, the snowpack structure is still weak and a persistent slab avalanche could still be triggered. The new snow brings with it the potential for storm slabs and dry loose avalanches. Avoiding avalanche terrain is the best way to not get caught in a slide. You can watch/read this observation for more details.
WAC Executive Director/Forecaster, Victor McNeil wrote this excellent Conditions Blog. It provides a great summary of conditions in January and what that means for the snowpack now in February.
