Quick report
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>None!</p>
Very stable conditions today with only sluffing in the new snow, and it required sustained steeper pitches to get sluffs to move. Biggest concern for Sunday is any increase in the winds (and they are forecasted to increase) with plenty of loose snow available for transport, and it will land on weak, low-density storm snow from the past few days.
Was finding the snow surface had faceted somewhat overnight, and any new snow today was sluffing very easily at this weak interface. With substantial storm amounts for Monday/Tuesday forecasted, will pay attention to see if this weakness becomes reactive with additional storm snow and possible wind drifts.
Until then about as good as it gets.
Generally Low hazard with sluffs only concern. Increasing winds will quickly elevate hazard.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Early in the morning before any new snowfall very difficult to get any sluffing. However, the snow surface had faceted somewhat overnight, so it was very easy to get the top few cms of new snow to sluff at this weak interface. Ski cuts on steep slopes (approaching 40 degrees) were sluffing easily, and one ski cut on a sustained, steep slope left a 2.5' debris pile on the uphill slide of trees.</p>
Periods of snow showers in the morning deposited ~5 cms (2") fairly quickly. The thigh-deep trailbreaking of Thursday and Friday was shin-deep today, and widespread settlement cones were found. I would estimate settlement of 30 cms (1'). Even lower-angled slopes were skiing well.