0430 temp. at 6350’ in Carnelian Bay: 30.7 deg. & 75% RH

0515 temp. at 8650’ Tamarack TH: 17 deg.

Backcountry obs.:

This morning I expected to find blasted wind board all over the backcountry, but was pleasantly surprised to find soft, wind-buffed snow in shady, sheltered areas and stiff pillows, wind board, and sun crusts elsewhere. Sastrugi near and above treeline was present, yet manageable. Popular N and E facing bowls are mostly scoured down to bed surfaces and heavily textured by the wind. However, it still is possible to sniff out areas of soft, wind deposited snow on the lee side of ridgelines and features in open bowls.

Considering the expectations for combat skiing, conditions aren’t that bad and actually still pretty fun.

Weather and forecast thoughts:

Cold, windy weather will begin to wane today as winds slacken and temps start their climb. Today will be partly cloudy with highs getting into the low 40s around the lake and 30s in the mountains.

This weekend and into early next week, spring arrives in earnest with warm temps, sunny skies, and light winds. Expect highs in the 40s and 50s for both Sat. and Sun with lows below freezing in a dry air mass. The trend continues into Mon.-Weds. Cool nights with low dewpoints should aid in refreezing snow surfaces overnight, promoting more widespread corn snow across the backcountry.

South faces have already received plenty of sun and warmth over the past week, so corn should already be present, especially at lower elevations. The weekend warm up and sunny skies will begin “corning” up the snow at higher elevations on E-S-W aspects. Timing is key with corn, so if you head out, be sure to get an early start to ensure a firm, frozen climb and smooth, buttery descent.

Models continue to show storminess returning to the area toward the end of next week, through the end of the month. Details are scant, but it could be something to look forward to. For now, there’s plenty of corn and sunshine to harvest in the coming days. Get it!