As the wind shifts northwest, watch for new wind slabs in unusual locations.
Recent wind has varied from south to northwest so watch for old and new wind slabs on a variety of aspects, especially at ridge crests and on rollovers.
A crust exists near the base of the snowpack. A lack of decisive data on this layer is keeping it on our radar for now. While it's been showing results in snowpack tests in some areas, most reports describe an improving bond to the overlying snow. Potential for full depth avalanches may exist in areas where weak, sugary facets overly this crust, especially in areas of smooth ground cover such as scree slopes, grassy slopes, or rock slabs.
Monday night: Clearing, moderate northwest wind, freezing level valley bottom.
Tuesday: Clear, light northwest wind, freezing level 500 - 1000 m with an above freezing layer developing 2500 - 3500 m in the late afternoon.
Wednesday: Clear, light southeast wind, freezing level 700 m with an above freezing layer 1500-3000 m.
Thursday: Clear, light southwest wind, freezing level 700 m.
Explosive control work produced size 1-1.5 wind slab avalanches on Friday. We've not had any reports of avalanche activity since then.
Our eyes and ears in the mountains are limited at this time of year and may continue this winter due to fewer professional observations. If you see anything (or don't) while out in the field, please consider sharing via the Mountain Information Network (MIN). Photos are especially helpful! Thank you so much for all the great MINs submitted so far!
Wind and small inputs of snow have formed wind slabs in on a variety of aspects at upper elevations. In more sheltered areas, recent snow may rest on a couple of layers of surface hoar 5-10 cm and 15-25 cm below the surface.
Treeline snowpack depths sit around 100 to 150 cm in the north and 50 to 100 cm in the south of the region.
Melt-freeze crusts from mid- and early-November are generally found 30 cm below the snow surface and 30 cm up from the ground, respectively. While they are still showing results in snowpack tests, most reports indicate that the bonds at the interfaces with these crusts are improving.
