Quick report
- Aspect
- North
- Red Flags
- Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking, Rapid Warming
- Elevation
- 2926 m
- Slope Angle
- 25°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Snow up to 1-2" per hour (S2-S5) at times. A few observed point releases, nothing major. A lot of wind transport, we had to break a new trail on every run in places. Tracks in exposed areas were filling in every lap. Some drifts up to 3' deep. A lot of soft cracking, no shooting cracks. Cracking was picking up later in the morning and early afternoon. I would not be surprised if there are some sensitive wind slabs in the higher exposed terrain, which we did not travel through today, due to concerns about the red flags observed (and the fact that visibility was really poor!). I included rapid warming more as a red flag to be aware of tomorrow, there is a lot of new low density snow that will be very sensitive to heating tomorrow.</p>
Snow profile only illustrates the storm snow, didn't feel the need to excavate through the knife hard mid pack (forgot my chainsaw....).
Why didn't we get storms like this in January/February?
Tomorrows' considerable rating is mostly due the sun coming out.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Moderate in the terrain we traveled in today but I would not be surprised if the hazard is higher in the alpine. I observed enough drifting, cross loading and soft cracking to be concerned.</p> <p>This will be a major concern as soon as the sun even thinks about coming out.</p> <p>Considerable, and with the new dry snow/ high April sun angle combo, perhaps a bit easier to forecast than usual. </p>
14-16 new above 9,500'. 12" at the base of Brighton, right side up and low density, mostly stellers. Of note: above 9,500' the basal 10 cm is slightly damp, my guess is that the first pulse came in warm and perhaps only at the higher elevations.. No major density inversions.
Some soft wind crusts/drifts in places.