Quick report
Significant new snow and warm temperatures have led to widespread wet loose activity throughout the region at all elevation bands. No wet slabs were observed but snowpack characteristics exhibit a wet slab hazard. At upper elevations, top-heavy 50cm thick storm slabs were reactive with ECT tests. - See snowpack comments-
Warm temperatures from town through Thompson Pass and to the North have created a widespread wet loose/wet slab problem at all elevation zones. Numerous wet loose D1-D2 avalanches were observed above town and through Keystone Canyon. South aspects near town appeared to have wet loose activity to ridgetops. No slab avalanches were observed but the structure of our snowpack presents a clear wet slab hazard in many areas.Weather
- Air Temp
- 37f @ 2300ft, 32f 3800ft
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- light
- Recent Snowfall
- 30cm @ 2300ft, 50cm @ 3800ft
- Snow Avail For Transport
- none
Cloudy with some intermittent breaks. Calm to light winds. Temperatures were above freezing through the pass from road level to 4000ft. Moist new snow was too dense and cohesive to be distributed by wind in observed areas. Areas that stayed below freezing (above 4500ft) will have significant snow available for transport.
Snowpack
Near the road level up to 2500 feet, there was about 30cm of fresh wet snow sitting on top of old rain crust.
At 3800 feet 50 cm of new snow was capped with a moist slab 10-20cm thick. New snow below this layer was noticeably drier.
Notable test results at 3800ft include ECTP 15 - Sudden planar at 50 cm - 1cm above new/old interface on decomposing precipitation particles
Avalanche
Widespread wet loose activity. All aspects to 3000+ feet. Most active on steep rocky S - SW aspects