Quick report
No cracking or collapsing observed here today. Other red flags noted were: significant wind loading; 6-12" new snow within previous 24 hours; suspected weak layers buried with recent snow.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- obscured
- Wind Loading
- intense
- Rain Elevation
- Below valley floors
- Recent Snowfall
- 20-25
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Snowing and blowing heavily for most of the day. Socked in the clouds until around 1300. Precipitation and winds subsided slightly from 1300-1400. Winds were building drifts 1-2 feet deep. Graupel and sleet were falling at elevations below 5500'.
Snowpack
We dug two pits today. First, was around 7000', W/NW aspect, HS 135 (4.5 ft.). ECTN results were hard within older February snow above the 02/01 crust complex (which was 55 cm or 18" down). This was a wind-scoured location and there was a several cm thick MF crust at the surface. Second pit was 7200', E/NE aspect, HS 195 cm (6.5 ft.). ECTP 13 x2, 58 cm (2') down on 0.5 mm near-surface facets. ECTN 9&10, 25 cm (10") down on 3-5 mm surface hoar and 3-4 mm graupel. These upper weak layers did not propagate across the full block, but failed easily and will most likely show the potential to propagate in the upcoming days.