20-21

<p>The mountains received 3-6” of snow equal to 0.3-0.7” of <a href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/or/snow/?cid=nrcs142p2… water equivalent</u></a>-SWE with 8” (0.8” SWE) in the Taylor Fork. Continued snowfall this morning will add a couple more inches to the storm total. The old snow surface and the amount of new snow will define avalanches today (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPpeLRBv-Qo&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvQDzKmH…;). In many areas, a crust formed by cooler temperatures will limit the depth of avalanches the height of the new snow. Assess the interface between the old and new snow before going onto steep slopes remembering that it does not take a very deep avalanche to tumble a skier or rider through nasty terrain. Expect conditions to change and avalanches to become more likely as temperatures warm in the afternoon and the sun hits slopes for the first time.</p>

<p>Where the old snow surface didn’t freeze or precipitation began as rain, avalanches may gouge deeper and be more destructive (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIajdl9hhyo"><strong><u>wet slab video</u></strong></a>). Avoid steep terrain where your skis or sled drop into unsupportable wet snow below the storm snow.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Human-triggered avalanches are possible today and the danger is rated MODERATE.</p>

<p>If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can submit them via our <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong><u>websi…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong><u>mtavalanche@gmail.com</u></str…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>

<p>The last four days had temperatures in the 40s and 50s F and the surface of the snowpack barely froze each of the last four nights. The snow will be slow to freeze this morning due to cloudy skies and just barely freezing temperatures. Wet snow avalanches are still a potential hazard, with the addition of avalanches involving new or wind-drifted snow this afternoon depending on how much snow falls.</p>

<p>Decreasing temperatures this morning will help the snowpack freeze and reduce wet snow activity, but some slopes may not freeze or will only have a thin crust before snow or rain falls later today. Avoid travelling on steep slopes where the snow surface is wet and not refrozen. Yesterday we got a report of a natural wet slab in the Main Boulder, outside and adjacent to our advisory area (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/wet-slab-main-boulder">photo</a><…;). This shows recent warm temperatures have introduced meltwater deeper into the snowpack and made wet slabs possible (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIajdl9hhyo"><strong>wet slab video</strong></a>). On slopes that do not freeze, the potential for wet slab avalanches will increase if there is rain or heavy snow. The higher you go in elevation, the more likely the snowpack is frozen. Slopes with a thick, supportable crust are generally stable and the main concern will be new snow sliding on these crusts this afternoon if more than a few inches of snow falls, or if it is blown into thick drifts.</p>

<p>See Dave’s <strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPpeLRBv-Qo&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvQDzKmH…; from Beehive yesterday for a discussion on assessing stability during the transition from wet snow to new snow. Today, avalanches are possible and avalanche danger is rated MODERATE.</p>

<p>If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can submit them via our <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong>website<…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong>mtavalanche@gmail.com</strong></a…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>