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Zero to low avalanche hazard with a pretty consistent snowpack. 4f hardness in the top 18cm and roughly 1 finger hardness below that to about 150cm. There are several shears on the way down but all of them had continued to gain strength over the last 2 days I spent around the Donner Summit area with no shear being below hard and most crystals moving towards or already rounding. 250cm at the 7800' level our next concern will be the next storm whenever that comes and how that bonds with the snow surface.
Right now we have a surface crust 2-4cm that is pencil hard, very smooth and getting firmer that supports skis in most spots. On top of this crust we have had surface faceting (North, East slope combos) with the cold clear nights and depending on where you where today a trace, or maybe quite a bit in the Mt Rose area, of cold new snow that came from the interior. East winds are supposed to continue and then back into a dry period with clear nights. These east winds will firm up everything more and cornices now should be like rocks. When we start to think about the next storm that comes in it will greatly depend on the temperature trend. Any storm that comes in cold will not bond well with the firm pack we have today and might be sitting on a weak layer of advanced facets by then. Ideally, the storm would come in with rain up high to melt/break down the surface crust and destroy the facets then turn to snow as the storm progresses. It's very easy to monitor the changes in the temps either by calling snow phones at Alpine Meadows, looking at remote data on the internet or keeping a eye on your outside thermometer at home. Who knows what the weather you can only count on things changing.
It's great to think about the possible future weather conditions and how they will affect the snowpack and it will keep your mind on something else while your waiting for the next powder day.
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