Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Poor snowpack structure in place, yet in areas where the last event deposited significant amounts, the December Facets are now buried in many places by over a meter of snow. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Storm Slab reactivity appeared to be the biggest concern and the contributory factor of Wind Loading aided in these sensitivities and reactive Soft Slabs. Slope cutting was effective. Additional loading as forecast overnight may add to this problem and the Graupel may also play as a weak layer not only for future Storm Slabs, but also with Grauple Pooling under Cliff Bands. </p> <p>Wind Slabs in the Upper Elevations were likely suspect on Steep terrain. </p> <p> </p> <p>Obviously Persistent Slab and Deep Slab are also Avalanche Problems to be aware of; and especially in the outlier areas outside of the Upper Cottonwoods where the pre-storm shallow snowpack/weak snow was housing the December Facets and the deeper November faceted layers. </p> <p> </p> <p>Depending on how the forecast plays out and verifies, the Danger Rating may escalate overnight with Heavy PI and Winds to High. </p>
The majority of the precip came as either rimed PP or Graupel. Grauple event with runnels and potential pooling, Storm Slab became reactive by 1400, Excellent riding in flat light and dense low cloud cover, HN in am appeared to 5" with another 5" during tour.