Quick report
• Widespread avalanche cycle above 6000’ consisting of soft wind slabs occurred on Mon/Tue (Mar. 16th/17th). Shallow, soft slab crowns were observed in Path 1163, Shed 8, Shed 5, all D1-D2 size. Associated debris terminated well above the rail and highway. • Multiple soft slabs crowns were also noted on the easterly aspects of Elk Mtn above Autumn Ck, also D1-D2 size. • Most notable this week has been the previously reported very large hard slab on the east face of Nyack Mtn that ran down into the Cascadilla basin (not a highway or Railway avalanche path). • As conditions warmed, wet loose activity began with avalanches in Path 1163 and Larrys (both D2s). Associated debris terminated above the rail/highway. • Multiple other wet loose events, D1-D2 size, observed in the Canyon in terrain that does not threaten the rail or highway. • A D2 slab avalanche ran today on the east face of Snowslip Mtn above Shields Ck. This basin is outside of, but adjacent to the Railway Program Area. • The snowpack is melting rapidly. Snow depths on the Canyon floor have diminished by 15-18” this week. • A lot of the southerly-facing slopes below 5000’ are now snow free.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Recent Snowfall
- 0
- Snow Avail For Transport
- none
• The warm-up began Monday morning with freezing levels stalling out at about 5500’ by that evening. • Freezing levels climbed higher Tue and Wed with daytime highs reaching the 50s °F on the Canyon floor and the mid-30s °F above 6000’. • Today is warmer still. Canyon floor temperatures are pushing 60 °F and it’s in the low to mid-40s above 6000’. • Westerly winds have been elevated all week. Gusts on the Canyon floor have exceeded 30 mph, gusts up at 7000’ have consistently pushed into the 50, 60, and 70 mph range. • Just over 1.00” of rainfall on the Canyon floor since Monday, most of that fell yesterday (Mar. 18).
Avalanche
- Size
- D2 R2
- Type
- WL
- Count
- 5
- Aspect
- N
- Trigger
- N
- Elevation
- 6200 ft
Debris terminated about 300' vertical above the highway. Looked like it started at the top of the path, but hard to tell.