Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
- Collapsing
- widespread
Observed around 16+ inches (40cm) of new snow at low and middle elevations. We experienced 15+ large collapses and frequent cracking from the ridgetop onto steeper slopes below. As noted above, most things had avalanched naturally other than on due S to SW aspects that had been baked by the sun/were dry previously. In snowpits, the new snow slab was too soft to behave cohesively in an ECT (taps just destroyed the slab), so it did not propagate however it did in a PST (where we look at instability without affecting the slab). Crowns were already refilling with new snowfall and looked to be primarily new snow running on the 1/4 (December drought snow) interface, with crown heights ranging ~1-2 feet. A few of the larger avalanches appeared to have stepped down (2-3 feet deep). The December drought snow is incredibly weak here and capped with surface hoar in most locations.
We experienced widespread collapsing on multiple aspects at low and middle elevations.Weather
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
Cold and clear before the next shortwave started to pulse through midday. Periods of strong winds and snowfall/squally
Avalanche
- Size
- D1 R1
- Type
- SS
- Aspect
- NW
- Elevation
- 7000 ft
Widespread avalanche activity from the previous 48 hours was noted on N/NW and E/SE aspects at low to middle elevations (likely occurred mid-storm on 1/9 into 1/10). Areas of the Greys with lingering snow at low elevations from December (and the Tetons, for that matter) are finally receiving a slab of snow on top of very weak facets and/or surface hoar. I've observed the most activity at middle elevations recently. There is observation bias because it has been harder to reach upper elevations. Still, the snow at middle elevations has the perfect recipe for some nastier instabilities.