Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading, Cracking, Rapid Warming, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Widespread roller balls and small Loose Wet Avalanches were observed on SE, S and SW aspects. See above for Wind Loading. Temperatures spiked by the mid afternoon hours. The same mid pack facets are still able to be observed in the upper mid and mid elevations on NW, N and NE aspects. Besides the Wet activity observed, it was also easy to trigger shallow Loose Dry on Steep NW, N and NE slopes. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>See above for Loose Wet activity, and this appeared to be the most prevalent Avalanche Problem observed today. </p> <p>Hard to write off the Persistent Slab possibilities with the poor structure still being observed in Specific areas. Any sustained cool to cold overnight lows may help the healing processes in the lower mid elevations, and the excessive warmth continues to melt away the lower elevations. Despite over an inch of Water, no audible red flags were observed today in areas traveled. </p> <p> </p> <p>There may still be pockets of lingering Isolated Wind Slabs in very steep high consequence terrain in the Upper Elevations. </p>
Classic Spring storm with yesterdays convective snow showers accumulating layers of rimed forms and small graupel. This right side up storm came in with dense snow and made for excellent riding in most areas, with some wind exposed features being scoured down to the old m/f crust surfaces. Newly laden Stubborn Wind Slabs with depths of at least 45 cm were minimally reactive in the early morning hours. This structure likened more to the qualities normally found in Storm Slabs with reactive density breaks occurring in the new snow and in graupel layers. It's label would have been Storm Slab with a contributing factor of Wind Loading. Initially it was easy to initiate cracking in these reactive layers, yet as the day proceeded these sensitivities appeared to settle out significantly.
By 1100 hours East, Southeast and South aspects were becoming damp, and by noon all aspects were becoming wet, even the low angle Northerly aspects. By the end of the day, the only aspects still holding cold dry snow were NW, N and NE with slope angles of at least 25 degrees and greater.
Rock bands in the upper starting zones in the Upper Elevations are housing cold dry full depth facets.
Below 8500 feet the snowpack is still isothermal, yet the overnight cool temperatures helped keep the riding acceptable in these lower elevations with wide skis still surfing on top of the snow surface. At least this was observed at 1500 upon exiting.