Observation: Garden City Bowls

Observed numerous large broken branches in the upper meadow below the ridge. Maybe from recent strong winds or overloaded by last week's storm snow.

Surface snow is scratchy and punchy.

Top 6-10" of snow was punchy by early afternoon. No rollerballs or pinwheels observed today.

High lenticular clouds from the strong upper air pre-frontal W winds.

The Central Bear Rivers are looking good but access is getting tough with many trailheads down to dirt or pavement for miles.

Thick "corn" in the afternoon on W facing slope.

It was great to see a few families out snowmobiling, enjoying what may be one of the last days to easily access snow right from the parking lot.

Overnight temperatures remained above freezing, so yesterday’s corn snow was not as supportable on sun-exposed slopes. In shaded terrain, the snow surface consists of a scratchy, melt-freeze crust. On solar aspects, the surface became increasingly punchy by around 2 p.m., with skis sinking approximately 6–10 inches into the snow.

No obvious red flags were observed as cool winds appeared to moderate surface warming throughout the day. At this point, warming seems limited to the upper foot of the snowpack. With a colder system expected to move through this weekend, we shoud get a good refreeze for a few nights to solidify the snowpack.