Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Rapid Warming, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>By 1300 Northeast, East, Southeast, South, and Southwest steep terrain were showing signs of rapid warming despite the mid winter low angle sun, and dribblers and roller balls were observed. Exited by 1400, so unsure on how much activity there was later in the day.</p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Wet Loose activity continued to be the concern again today with the Upper Elevations and Upper Mid Elevations getting into the mix. </p> <p> </p> <p>Concern for even Wet Slab potential in the Lower Elevations may be necessary on Tuesday if the forecast for the snow levels and SWE verifies. Excessive Rain on Snow up to 8000 feet may be possible, and regardless, significant amounts of Heavy Wet Snow appear likely up to 9000 feet. The zone up to at least 8500 on the northerly aspects may also be suspect for potential Wet Slabs by late Tuesday afternoon if these New Snow totals occur. </p> <p>Fairly large overhanging cornices observed over the past few days continued to be a concern in the Rapid Warming. Evidence of Natural activity for this problem was apparent from the latest event, and with the Red Flag overnight temperatures combined with the new snow and winds these are Likely to be an issue by late Tuesday afternoon.</p> <p> </p> <p>Roof Avalanches continued to shed throughout the day and overnight with devastating solid ice slabs within their structures. </p>
Above 9000 feet the surface snow was still holding cold snow until 1300, and at that point even the northerly facing terrain got damp. At 0400 on 12/27 overnight lows are still in the 40's even at 9000, with many remote weather stations at and above 9500 feet struggling to dip below the freezing point. Fortunately, there have been brief period of overnight refreezes since Christmas eve and day.
Riding conditions on Monday were much shallower and grabbier in the remaining cold dry snow and still fun, but the fun turned to mank by 1400 even at 9800 feet on the northerly aspects. All other aspects were becoming saturated by then.