Quick report
- Red Flags
- Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Although we didn't have any collapsing or large cracks, the new snow is quickly forming a slab. With our delicate layers of facets in the snowpack of most aspects, we may see some big avalanches if this storm unleashes on us. I being a pessimist about the storm and predicting Considerable danger tomorrow, but if we get more than another 0.5" SWE and continue to have winds gusting >30, I think the danger will be High.</p>
Footage of snow being blown down onto Coyote. The southern winds today will further load our north faces where our weak layers are the worse. The wind had been much worse just 30 seconds before, but you get the point.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Lots of wind slabs forming today... I would lump this in with a new snow problem to cover the the full range of problems without enough text windows.</p> <p>Weak layers still lurch at the bottom of our snowpack waiting to be re-awakened with new load.</p>
About 6" of medium density had fallen by the time we got to making turns in the northwoods. The snow in many areas had been exposed to enough wind to start to form slabs. The new snow also has not bonded well and we were constantly slipping on the old snow interface while breaking tracks. This could make storm snow avalanches more likely through this storm cycle so watch out for that particularly if we get a substantial dump (fingers crossed). Should be good skiing tomorrow, but stay clear of avalanche terrain.