Rapid warming is an obvious signs of instability. When the snowpack is subject to a rapid warming, it can become very wet and unstable, increasing the stress on the overall snowpack. Rollerballs, point releases, and sloughs are all signs of rapid warming. Seek shaded slopes or cooler aspects if you are sinking into the snow past mid boot top.
Traveling through subalpine forests above Horseshoe Lake today revealed over a meter (39") of snow in most areas. The graupel and rimed crystals were still present but under a thin layer of rounded, moist grains that have been hit by strong March sun. Test results were higher in the snowpack than Tuesday, on small, loose rounded facets below a thin melt freeze crust about 10 inches down from the surface. A compression test failed higher in the snowpack and subsequent compression tests did not produce any results.
A few small loose wet slides occurred below rock bands on the Mammoth Crest. After a cold Wednesday night, north facing slopes retained most of the soft storm snow from Monday.
| 0600 temperature: | 30 deg. F. |
| Max. temperature in the last 24 hours: | 44 deg. F. |
| Average wind direction during the last 24 hours: | SW-NE |
| Average wind speed during the last 24 hours: | 20 mph |
| Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours: | 43 mph |
| New snowfall in the last 24 hours: | 0 inches |
| Total snow depth: | inches |
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This snowpack summary applies only to backcountry areas outside established ski area boundaries. This snowpack summary only describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur. This snowpack summary expires 24 hours after the posted time unless otherwise noted. The information in this snowpack summary is provided by the USDA Forest Service who is solely responsible for its content.
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