Soak up the sunshine, take stock of early season snowpack variability, and monitor for lingering pockets of wind slab in the alpine.
Share what you see in the mountains this weekend via the MIN!
Strong and variable winds have redistributed the 20-30 cm of snow from last weekend's storm into cohesive slabs that may still be possible to trigger in the alpine in isolated pockets. These slabs could be more reactive where they overly a weak layer of surface hoar that formed on a crust.
Friday night: Few clouds, alpine temperature -10 C, light northeast wind, no precipitation.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, alpine temperature -9 C, light variable wind, no precipitation.
Sunday: Increasing cloud cover, alpine temperature -7 C, light southerly wind, no precipitation.
Monday: Mostly cloudy, alpine temperature -8 C, southwest wind increasing to moderate, isolated flurries with 1-3 cm of accumulation possible.
Avalanches are decreasing in likelihood, but it still may be possible to trigger wind slabs in isolated pockets in the alpine. This is a great MIN report from the neighboring South Columbia region on Wednesday that helps to paint the picture of these wind slab avalanches.
If you see anything while out in the field, please consider sharing that information with us and the backcountry community via the Mountain Information Network.
With this week's clear and cold weather, last weekend's storm snow is losing strength, except where it has been drifted into wind slabs in the alpine. Variable winds previously redistributed the 20-30 cm of recent snow into wind slabs that may still be possible to trigger in isolated areas. These slabs could be more reactive where they overly a weak layer of surface hoar (feathery crystals) that formed last week. With few recent field observations, there is uncertainty as to the current distribution and reactivity of these layers. Generally, the prolonged inactive weather pattern has improved snowpack stability in the short term.
Snow line sits around 1200 m, and snow depths range from 90-140 cm at treeline elevations.
