Webcam image courtesy of Kevin Dressel.

Clouds are moving into the area ahead of a weak disturbance that may bring a few scattered snow showers to the mountains later today. SW winds are averaging 15-20 mph along ridge tops and temps are in the low 20's. Winds will increase by about 10 mph today and we'll see gusts into the 40's. High temps will be near 30 degrees. The next system will bring a chance of snow Thu-Fri, with a better chance for snow coming on Sat-Sun.

I was out and about with Dustin Randall of ROAM Industry yesterday. It was a beautiful spring-like day in the mountains with associated spring-like conditions. Last week's incredible 50" of snow has settled out considerably but trail breaking is still difficult through up to 2' of snow. The snow got very moist yesterday and S facing slopes are crusted over. Wind exposed slopes have sustained some damage, both from SW and NW winds, but soft snow can still be found in protected areas. Stability tests show that the snowpack has largely adjusted to the snow load. Remaining areas of concern include wind drifted slopes, and steep, shady, northerly aspects where buried persistent weak layers of loose, sugary, faceted snow still exist.

Wind drifts have formed on the leeward sides of terrain features, in between wind scoured zones. Avoid steep, wind drifted slopes that have a smooth, rounded appearance to them.