With another day of warm temperatures and sun, loose wet avalanches are possible in steep terrain as the surface snow losses cohesion.
A weak layer persists deep in the snowpack, which could potentially be triggered by smaller avalanches on the surface.
In solar facing terrain the surface snow will loss cohesion from direct sun effect and warm temperatures. Watch for pinwheeling and loose wet avalanches throughout the day and remember that small avalanches near the surface can step down to deeper instabilities.
A layer involving either a crust and sugary facets, or preserved surface hoar exists 10 to 30 cm above the ground. This layer continues to produced some alarming, sudden planar test results in snow profiles. Although challenging to trigger yourself, a small avalanche on the surface could potentially scrub down to this layer, making for a bigger then expected avalanche.
No recent avalanches have been reported.
Keep sharing your observations by submitting a MIN report! They are especially helpful in the early season when snowpack information can be limited.
Surface: Moist surface snow on solar aspects with another day of warm temperatures. Sheltered north-facing terrain remains dry.
Upper Snowpack: The upper snowpack continues to settle into a cohesive slab with above freezing temperatures and sun.
Lower Snowpack: A weak layer of facets with a crust and surface hoar buried in late November exists 10 to 30 cm above the ground.
Overall snow depths generally range from 100-140 cm in the alpine.
Thursday night
Sunny, with alpine temperatures remaining above freezing. Light south winds. Freezing levels remain above the mountaintops.
Friday
Sunny, with alpine temperatures around 0 to +5 C. Light south winds. Freezing levels remain above the mountaintops.
Saturday
Mix of sun and cloud, with no precipitation. Light westerly alpine winds. Freezing levels drop throughout the day, bringing below-freezing temperatures to the alpine.
Sunday
Mix of sun and cloud. Chance of flurries. Light winds and temperatures around 0 to -10 C in the alpine.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
