Quick report
Recent snowfall has not changed the avalanche game much. 2-4 inches (being generous here) fell since Wednesday. This new snow was light and winds have also been light. We did not observe any small wind slabs near ridgelines or cornices. Surface hoar and near-surface facets that were buried yesterday are likely not going to be a problem in the near term. Why you may ask? (1) There's no slab on top of this recently buried weak layer, (2) New snow will be exposed to the continued pattern of clear, dry weather and will likely decompose and/or weaken into the existing layer of near-surface facets.
No signs of instability.Weather
- Air Temp
- 25
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Wind Loading
- none
- Rain Elevation
- <4900
- Recent Snowfall
- 5-7
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Scattered to broken skies over the Long Valley this morning, with patches of blue. Dark, storm clouds were moving in from the west ahead of a shortwave trough bringing moisture to the region. Winds were calm to light out of the W/SW. Very light snow showers began around noon (S-1). Temperatures were in the mid to upper 20s F.
Snowpack
We dug two pits today. Both were around 7400 feet. One was on a west aspect, the other on a northeast aspect. HS ranged from 120-170 cm (4-6 ft.). Slightly deeper on E/NE and than on west aspects. 2-4 inches of new snow from yesterday. Recently buried surface hoar and near-surface facets were much more pronounced on NE aspect than west. Both pits produced ECTNs 20-30 cm (8-12") down at the interface of recent near-surface faceting within old snow. Snow grains adjacent to 01/03 MFcr are still well rounded.
Quick roadside probe at ~6500 feet showed HS of 100 cm (3.5 ft.).