Quick report
Widespread surface hoar growth, 2mm+ especially in sheltered areas. SH was knocked down in open areas near and above treeline. Recent snow of 25-30cm remains unaffected by wind and sits on a supportable crust. This snow started the day dry, and skied as "creamy pow" into the early PM. It began to get wetter with solar radiation, with some skin glopping noted (RR?). In PM, areas in the shade skied with a thin sun crust. Coverage is generally good. No cracking, collapsing, or avalanches noted, but for some minor cracking around vegetation. Some roller balling on solar aspects in PM near rocky features.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 4-37
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- none
- Recent Snowfall
- 25cm (12/27)
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Calm winds and clear skies, with some high cirrus. Temp at TH 4F at 9am, 37F at 2:30pm.
Snowpack
HS throughout the zone is 95-125cm. Upper snowpack is 25-30cm of F hard PP/DF from the 12/27 storm, sitting on a stout, supportable crust. Mid snowpack below that crust layer is a mixture of 4F-1F density layers consisting of rounding facets and decomposing crusts, which appear to be sintering. The lower snowpack at this location was a crust near the ground with 2mm facets on top, which pit tests showed to still be the layer of concern, with propagating results (see SnowPilot).