Quick report
- Red Flags
- Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Heavy snowfall during the night will take a bit of time to settle out. Some wind loading and drifting in exposed areas. Some soft localized cracking in drifted areas, less than expected.</p> <p>I was able to isolate the new snow in areas with slope angles <20 degrees. harder but sometimes possible on steeper slopes. All ECT's were ECTN, not enough of a slab in the new snow, I did not try this in many drifted areas.</p> <p>One weak shear (Q2) shear was observed in one location at the base of the new snow, I would expect that this would occur in other locations.</p> <p>I think that yesterdays prefrontal winds and warm weather might have helped degrade most of the surface hoar observed on Friday.</p> <p>The new snow was generally non-reactive while cutting slopes prior to opening this morning. One exception was a small 1' deep fracture on a rock rollover. Very minor.</p> <p>I was surprised by the general non-reactive nature of the new snow. Some minor sluffing on steeper rollovers.</p>
No snow profile today. However, imagine 30" of new snow on my profile from 12/23 on Lake Peak.
While I did not see many strong indications of instability, I would call the hazard due to the amount of new snow.
Thank You Baby Jesus!
Happy Holidays!
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Storm slab would be my 1st concern in the near future.</p> <p>Considerable hazard on any slope steeper that 35 degrees as the new snow consolidates. I would not be surprised to see indications of a natural cycle when things clear</p> <p>Wind slabs in exposed areas would concern me over the next few days. The wind was picking up a bit this afternoon. note: I did not travel in any wind exposed areas today.</p> <p>Considerable hazard.</p>
Generally very light powder and lots of it. Some drifting in exposed areas.
Hard call on HST - 30" seems about right.