Excellent deep powder riding in the early to mid morning hours. New snow for the storm was at least 15 inches at 0700 Tuesday morning and then another 4 to 7 fell during the day with the brunt of this falling by 1100. As the sky lifted in the late morning hours Greenhousing was taking place and the only slopes that appeared to survive were north facing and above 9500 feet with slope angles of at least 30 degrees. Below 9000 the snow got exceedingly wet and thick. The winds scoured upper elevation ridgelines with west and northwest aspects.
See avalanche report from Patsy Marley Shoulder as well as the previously cited Millicent Bowl and Shoulder areas. Wind Slabs appeared to be mostly Soft Slabs needing only 4 finger density to help create cohesive reactive slabs. The moderately warm afternoon temperatures generated by greenhousing may have helped reduce the reactivity of this widespread avalanche problem, yet in the upper elevation SE, E, and NE terrain there may be lingering issues on Wednesday. Yet as the W and SW winds begin to accelerate again prior to the next round of precipitation, the upper elevations may see another round of loading and activity.
Along with the previously cited Wind Slab issues, there was a very sensitive and reactive density break that was producing Soft Slab issues within the new snow, and in many places there was widespread avalanching in reactive layers directly above the old snow/new snow interface. Both Wind Slabs and Storm Slabs appeared to align with the widespread unusually wide propagating avalanche cycle that was observed and reported by multiple parties. In upper elevation terrain above 9800 feet this issue may still show signs of reactivity on Wednesday morning.
Danger today was Considerable, and any periods of direct sunshine on Wednesday morning and or early afternoon may see this same Considerable Danger rating but more likely as a result of Wet Loose activity. Any periods of elevated wind development and or heavy PI may see another round of natural activity.
