Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
Encountered a generally stable snowpack with stability concerns revolving around fresh wind slab development that has formed due to north wind that has increased in strength over the last 24 hours. Instabilities were 4-8" in depth and were confined to lee slopes near ridges and cross loaded gullies. Wind slabs 1 foot in depth likely exist along high elevation ridge lines, and with the forecast calling for continued outflow wind expect slabs to build in depth overnight. Snowpits were dug on a N aspect ~2500' and a NW aspect ~4800'. Both pits produced moderate to hard results 1 foot down with no propagation. At 2500' the height of snow was 95 cms (~3') and at 4800' was 130cms. Snow at the ground in both locations consisted of old meltforms that had formed facets over time and are now showing signs of rounding.
Recently loaded slopes produced shooting cracks 4-8 inches deep on the lee side of ridges generally 10' in length with one location producing a longer 30' crack.Weather
- Air Temp
- 6
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Recent Snowfall
- 10 cm
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Overcast skies, single digits Fahrenheit, with moderate north winds near and along ridges.
Snowpack
Fresh north wind redistribution had created surface instabilities on lee slopes close to ridges of cross-loaded gullies and top-loaded slopes. The unstable snow at the surface was found to be 4-8 " in depth. Besides sensitive pockets of newly formed wind slab, the overall snowpack was right side up with no major flaws.