Snowpack Summary March 5, 2022
Posted by Allen Giernet @ 8:15am (this summary expires in 24 hours)
This summary applies to backcountry areas only.
The Bottom Line –
Fast firm conditions with slid for life will be possible in most areas. Dust on crust with variable conditions is likely in many areas especially in steep terrain. Avalanche danger will increase through day with moderate to strong winds and more snow. Small isolated wind slabs will be possible in the San Gabriel mountains on leeward slopes though not enough to bury you they could knock you off your feet on fast firm slopes. In the San Bernardino Mountains where more snowfall has been recorded Wind slabs are more likely though small they will be larger due to more transportable snow. They will develop on leeward slopes generally East to Northeast but will be possible on any aspect watch for the signs of drifting snow. Wind transported snow, wind scouring and pillowed, firm, hollow snow.
If you venture out please submit your observations to the avalanche center Submit Reports page.
Posted by Allen Giernet @ 8:15am (this summary expires in 24 hours)
This summary applies to backcountry areas only.
The Bottom Line –
Fast firm conditions with slid for life will be possible in most areas. Dust on crust with variable conditions is likely in many areas especially in steep terrain. Avalanche danger will increase through day with moderate to strong winds and more snow. Small isolated wind slabs will be possible in the San Gabriel mountains on leeward slopes though not enough to bury you they could knock you off your feet on fast firm slopes. In the San Bernardino Mountains where more snowfall has been recorded Wind slabs are more likely though small they will be larger due to more transportable snow. They will develop on leeward slopes generally East to Northeast but will be possible on any aspect watch for the signs of drifting snow. Wind transported snow, wind scouring and pillowed, firm, hollow snow.
If you venture out please submit your observations to the avalanche center Submit Reports page.
General Summary
Recent snow fall and cold temperatures following a significant warm spell will contribute to a couple of concerns. Fast firm conditions due to below freezing temperatures will be possible on all aspects at all elevations where snow exists. Expect variable conditions with dust on crust, firm wind scoured surfaces and light powdery snow. Have the equipment and skills to deal with slip and fall situations in steep terrain or stick to moderate slopes. Increasing avalanche danger today with moderate to strong winds and con tinting snowfall. Wind Slabs will be a big concern mainly in our Southern mountain ranges (San Bernardino & San Jacinto) where more snowfall has been expected and recorded. They will be possible in all ranges in isolated areas and more likely in the aforementioned mountains. Watch for signs of wind slabs on Leeward slopes and sides of gullies mainly East to Northeast aspects but possible on any aspects to local topographic influence. Drifting wind transported snow, Wind sculpting, cornices, wind scouring and firm, pillowed, hollow sounding snow are all signs of wind slab development. Avoid steep terrain over 30° if any of these signs exist. Even a small stuff could knock you off your feet for a nasty ride on firm snow, any steep slope with a terrain trap below, trees, rocks, drop offs or a gully at the bottom could seriously increase the consequences.
Exercise caution on slopes over 30° as these conditions will exist throughout all mountain ranges. Always exercise caution when entering into winter mountain areas. Bring a Beacon Shovel and Probe and know how to use them. Travel with a partner and make conservative decisions.
Recent snow fall and cold temperatures following a significant warm spell will contribute to a couple of concerns. Fast firm conditions due to below freezing temperatures will be possible on all aspects at all elevations where snow exists. Expect variable conditions with dust on crust, firm wind scoured surfaces and light powdery snow. Have the equipment and skills to deal with slip and fall situations in steep terrain or stick to moderate slopes. Increasing avalanche danger today with moderate to strong winds and con tinting snowfall. Wind Slabs will be a big concern mainly in our Southern mountain ranges (San Bernardino & San Jacinto) where more snowfall has been expected and recorded. They will be possible in all ranges in isolated areas and more likely in the aforementioned mountains. Watch for signs of wind slabs on Leeward slopes and sides of gullies mainly East to Northeast aspects but possible on any aspects to local topographic influence. Drifting wind transported snow, Wind sculpting, cornices, wind scouring and firm, pillowed, hollow sounding snow are all signs of wind slab development. Avoid steep terrain over 30° if any of these signs exist. Even a small stuff could knock you off your feet for a nasty ride on firm snow, any steep slope with a terrain trap below, trees, rocks, drop offs or a gully at the bottom could seriously increase the consequences.
Exercise caution on slopes over 30° as these conditions will exist throughout all mountain ranges. Always exercise caution when entering into winter mountain areas. Bring a Beacon Shovel and Probe and know how to use them. Travel with a partner and make conservative decisions.
General Mountain Weather Forecast |
3-5-22
Saturday - Reports range from a dusting of snow in the San Gabriel mountains to 5" in the San Bernardino Mountains. Colder today as the system continues to pass through the area. Partially to mostly cloudy skies with snow showers possible most of the day and moderate to gusty and strong Northwest to West winds.
Sunday - Dryer conditions with moderate winds and cold temperatures only a couple of degrees warming then Saturday.
Slow warming will continue for the beginning to middle of the week with mostly mild conditions. The latter part of the week may bring gusty winds again.
Saturday - Reports range from a dusting of snow in the San Gabriel mountains to 5" in the San Bernardino Mountains. Colder today as the system continues to pass through the area. Partially to mostly cloudy skies with snow showers possible most of the day and moderate to gusty and strong Northwest to West winds.
Sunday - Dryer conditions with moderate winds and cold temperatures only a couple of degrees warming then Saturday.
Slow warming will continue for the beginning to middle of the week with mostly mild conditions. The latter part of the week may bring gusty winds again.
Click here for this Season's Snow Pack Summaries
To better understand the challenges and potential variability over the large area we are producing information for please read our Snowpack Summary - Format and Limitations
Disclaimer:
This Bulletin is designed to generally describe conditions where local variations always occur. Travelers are advised to exercise caution and make slope specific evaluations. As always, please treat this bulletin with appropriately guarded skepticism and make your own assessments. Help to provide more information to the community by reporting your observations
This Bulletin is designed to generally describe conditions where local variations always occur. Travelers are advised to exercise caution and make slope specific evaluations. As always, please treat this bulletin with appropriately guarded skepticism and make your own assessments. Help to provide more information to the community by reporting your observations
Click on the links below for the latest information
Latest Observtions
Click on the observation to go to the full report
Observation type
Snowpack Location - Mt Pinos Summit Date (yyyymmdd) - 2022027 Comment Snow from last week's storm was surprisingly skiable on Mt. Pinos on Sunday. A quick check in the north-facing forest near the parking area disclosed lingering powder about five inches deep, and that was common throughout my tour to the summit and down the northwest apron. The meadows had some disagreeable frozen suncups, but it wasn't hard to maneuver around them. The powder became mashed potatoes in places, but they were firm potatoes that responded well to my powder skis. All in all much better snow than two weeks ago |
Observation type
Snowpack Location - Jean Peak San Jacinto Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220226 Comment - Observed a significant layer of sleet/graupel in the snowpack. Top layer of snow is 5cm of well consolidated new snow. Below this layer there is a layer of 3-4cm of very loose and granular graupel. If this layer does not consolidate it could cause significant problems and become a weak layer in the snowpack if additional snow accumulates on top. The existing top layer released very easily, rolling across the graupel like they were ball bearings. This layer was observed at all elevations above 7,000 feet (turned around at 8,000 feet). |
Observation type
Snowpack Location - Eastern San Gabriel Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220226 Comment - Headed out for a mellow local tour with modest expectations for what I'd find. To my surprise, snow conditions were excellent even after 2-3 days of clear weather. The very cold nature of the 2/22-2/23 storm, plus the cool days and cold nights that followed, seemed to keep the surface in prime shape. There were obvious locations of thin cover and bare earth, mostly on low-angle and sun affected aspects, but the steeper North facing aspects skied the best, with 10-20cm of soft fluffy powder. By noon, anything in direct sun was turning over to "hot pow" but still skied great. I suspect Sunday will be punchy and crusty given the quick warmup and milder overnight temps. I dug a pit on a 35 degree NNE test slope at 7200ft and was met with a surprisingly deep snowpack. 75cm deep. 1F snow from 55-75cm with a thin melt/freeze crust at 55cm; 1F snow from 40-55cm (ostensibly last week's storm) that showed signs of faceting, plus another thin crust at 40cm; 0-40cm pen hard remains of early season snowfall that also showed signs of faceting. I did a quasi-column test (forgot my saw...) and didn't see any evidence of obvious failures, but would take that with a grain of salt given the poor test execution. These findings were consistent with other recent observations on >7000ft North aspects, where anything under a clear sky and sheltered from the wind was converting over to a sugary texture, whereas any solar input resulted in more pronounced melt consolidation. Overall, the effect of more sunshine is becoming obvious in the local mountains, and the areas holding soft snow are becoming higher and steeper. It will be interesting to see how this week's warmup affect the current snowpack, and how that plays with any future storms (fingers crossed.) |
Observation type -
Snowpack Location - San G Big Daw Chutes Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220219 Comment - Terrible conditions this weekend. Snow was mashed potatoes as soon as the sun rose up. It was a mix of powdery new snow from Tuesday's storm in the shade, and Spring slush in the sun. Under the slush/powder was a hard sheet of compacted snow/ice. About 6" of new snow above 9000'. Ridges and chutes were in decent shape, but were wind-scoured in places. Upper Big Draw was hard ice, and lower was powder/slush. 7 days of heat, and the an cold storm last week made for sketchy conditions all around. Signs or wet loose avalanches in steep sun-exposed gullies. |
General Caution
You should always use safe terrain management and carry avalanche rescue equipment in the backcountry. Most avalanches are triggered by someone in the party or the victim. Practice with your rescue gear often and be prepared should the worst happen. Though we do not have an avalanche forecast center in this area as of yet, the information posted and shared here as well as the resources available on this site will help to make informed decisions for your backcountry travels. Use avalanche forecasts in your travels wherever available and be aware that avalanche ratings are general information. Elevation, location, geographic variability’s, slope aspect and angle all have effects on the particular area you travel in. This is only one piece of the information you should use in your decision making process. There is no substitute for avalanche education, for more resources and information as well as education please refer to our resources page.
You should always use safe terrain management and carry avalanche rescue equipment in the backcountry. Most avalanches are triggered by someone in the party or the victim. Practice with your rescue gear often and be prepared should the worst happen. Though we do not have an avalanche forecast center in this area as of yet, the information posted and shared here as well as the resources available on this site will help to make informed decisions for your backcountry travels. Use avalanche forecasts in your travels wherever available and be aware that avalanche ratings are general information. Elevation, location, geographic variability’s, slope aspect and angle all have effects on the particular area you travel in. This is only one piece of the information you should use in your decision making process. There is no substitute for avalanche education, for more resources and information as well as education please refer to our resources page.