24 Hour Snow: 0" 72 Hour Snow: 0" Season Total Snow: 21" Depth at Gold Basin: 14"

Winds on Pre-Laurel Peak: SW 20-25 G 30 Temp: 39° F

Weather

Ridge top winds from the southwest have been cranking in the 20-30 mph range and the overnight low in Gold Basin was 38°F. High pressure continues to dominate the region with continued record high temperatures at 20-25 degrees above normal. By Wednesday, southwest flow brings moisture from a Pacific low into our area. I'm afraid it's not looking like the storm we are hoping for as continued high temperatures will moderate snowfall amounts and keep snow levels high.

General Conditions

It's been a tough couple of weeks on our snowpack and all you need to do is look up from town to see that. In my travels up the Laurel Highway on Saturday I found thin, mixed bag snow conditions ranging from solid melt freeze crusts, to wind affected snow, to dense, loose, and faceted snow. The record warm temperatures have melted most south aspects down to bare ground, while strong winds from the northwest have blasted exposed northerly aspects above tree line down the rocks. Sheltered terrain near tree line and below harbors 12-24 inches of faceting snow. It's not what I would call a complete "sandbox" yet, but it is definitely becoming very loose and weak and this will undoubtedly develop into a persistent weak layer problem when we finally get more snow. For more details, read my observation and watch the video below.

Chris Benson was also out braving condition up in the high peaks on Saturday. Read his observation from the south slopes of Mount Tukuhnikivatz and see his video from the summit. It paints a sober picture of our overall snow cover.

Snowpack and Weather Data

NEW! Gold Basin webcam storm stake

Gold Basin Storm Stake (10,000')