Early season conditions update #8
Continue to use normal caution when traveling in the backcounrty. Rain, snow, and wind during the storm on Sunday and Monday could allow wind slabs, possible storm slab, or minor loose wet instabilities to form in some areas where enough snow accumulates. Near and above treeline terrain holds the best potential for these areas of instability especially in areas where significant wind-loading occurs. These instabilities should diminish during the week as the weather calms down.
As new snow and wind impact the area during the next 24 hours, expect unstable wind slabs to form on some wind-loaded slopes. Some of these wind slabs could grow large enough during the night to pose a threat to backcountry travelers in specific areas where the most wind-loading occurs.
Rain on snow may create enough wet snow this afternoon for some loose wet instabilities to form. These should remain small and limited to areas with existing snow.
Changes in precipitation intensity, temperature, winds, and other things during this storm may create some weaknesses in the storm snow allowing small isolated storm slabs to form in some more sheltered areas. These should remain limited to areas with an existing snowpack that covers up the trees, rocks, stumps, etc that may serve to anchor the snowpack in place.
* Despite significant melting this week, 2 to 3 ft. of snow still exists above 8,000' on most E-NE-N-NW aspects throughout the forecast area. Below 7,200' to 7,800', the snowpack is shallow with a minimal amount of usable snow. Bare ground exists in most areas below 7,000'.
* Snowpit data across the forecast area up to 10200 ft. indicates a well-bonded snowpack. Tests targeting the old snow at the bottom of the pack no longer show evidence of continued instability.
* Spring-like snow conditions exist in many areas with daytime warming creating soft wet snow on the surface on sun-exposed aspects.
* Firm, icy surfaces exist on shaded aspects.
See specific observations below for more info.
