Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Avalanches reported by other parties appeared to be the norm in the upper elevation wind loaded terrain. Cross Loading was as common as Top Loading. Skin tracks were filling in by the hour, and new one finger Wind Slabs of up to 20 cm were observed. At least the top 15 cm of the snowpack was showing signs of weakening and faceting. Any new Wind Slabs were being deposited on these weak surfaces. Forecasts for increasing winds will exacerbate this problem over the next 24 hours. </p> <p>Any new loading either snowfall or winds will be falling on a very weak/loose snow surface, and it appears we will be returning to a Persistent Slab possibility on slopes with angles 35 degrees and greater. </p> <p>There are still many overhanging Cornices that may get overloaded with the current winds and light snow forecast. </p> <p>By the end of the day on Thursday Natural avalanches in steep upper elevation terrain may have been possible and Likely. As a result the predominant Danger for Thursday was at least Moderate. And there may have been very isolated pockets of Considerable due to the Natural issue. On Friday the Danger may once again rise to Considerable for the same reasons. </p>
At 1800 a squall moved through BCC with the rain/snow line at 7500. Only a trace of graupel fell at this point in time. The snow surface changed drastically in the past 48 hours. On Tuesday the new snow from the weekend was still very loose, airy and unconsolidated. Today the best riding had dense settled faceted snow that was best described as creamy and had an old tired feeling. Northerly aspects at upper elevations rode the best. The winds actually improved the riding conditions in many locations erasing old tracks and smoothing out the snow surfaces. In other areas there was significant wind damage and sculpting. And on any aspects on the lower half of the compass (including due E and W) there are now variable thicknesses of m/f crusts with facets below. The upper 10 cm continue to house NSF's. The settled height of the latest storm was 14 inches on the northerly protected aspects.