Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking, Rapid Warming
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Lots of snow transport during the day along with heavy squall showers throughout the day. Snow cracking on most aspects. Seeing senstive 10"-16" soft pockets come out with ski cuts. Found a 3-3.5' deep avalanche in a good fetch on SE aspect. Very senstive, popped out on ski cut, much deeper than expected. Initiated as a 12" soft windslab and instantly steped down an additional 2-2.5', about 175-200' wide. Ran about 200-300' and stopped as slope angle decreased. Size 1.5-2. Observed some natural avalanching on similar slopes.</p>
Be aware of sensitive wind slabs on all aspects. Don't be caught unaware, they are living in most aspects in mid to upper elevations. Most are of a manageable size, but deeper pockets are out there and are bordering on unmanageable in the wrong terrain. Photo below of one such deeper pocket.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>The wind has transported a lot of the new snow into some deep areas. Seeing soft sensitive wind slabs widespread on many aspects as the winds have wrapped around the compass during this storm cycle. Some pillows deeper than expected, up to 4' deep. Very sensitive throughout the day today.</p> <p>Seeing push-alanches below about 9500' today. Roller balls and slow moving push-alanches on steeper lower elevation slopes. Running on slick MF crusts from before the storm. Dense heavy snow could push or carry a person into trees or over rocks if not prepared.</p>
About 4"-8" of new snow since yesterday afternoon in mid to upper elevations. Seeing a rime crust under new snow below 10,000' most likely from yesterday afternoon evening.