Quick report
- Red Flags
- Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Rapid Warming
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>High PI rates during the afternoon, much graupel pooling.</p> <p>Wind loading in exposed areas, this would lead me to call the hazard moderate.</p> <p>If the sun comes out wet snow slides are likely, moderate hazard only due to the limited depth of the new snow sitting on a base that has been through a couple of warm cycles.</p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>A lot of blowing snow today, see videos below.</p> <p>Moderate hazard.</p> <p>When the sun comes out.</p> <p>Moderate hazard.</p>
Generally about HST = 6" above 9500'. Mostly graupel some up to almost pea sized. Only about 2" at base of the summer road.
Few variable density inversions, likely related to periods of high PI. These will likely settle out quickly.
Snow above 9500' is sitting on a mostly supportable base. Some exceptions in shaded protected area in which it is easy to push a ski pole grip 4" down into the midpack. Occasional areas of new snow sitting on a warm/sun crust underlain by weak faceted snow.
Damp snow below 9500 sitting on a damp spongy base.
The new snow appears to have come in warm and seems well bonded on hand shear testing.
Drifts up to 18" deep along the ridge tops.
Much soft cracking, no shooting cracks in any locations.