Quick report
Recent storm snow appeared rightside up with light snow at the surface and denser snow near the new/old interface. There could be some isolated spots where weak layers were buried at the new/old interface. Solar aspects had a thin MF crust with small facets just beneath crust. This interface could fail easily as new snow becomes moist. Loose avalanches appear to be the primary concern. There may be some lingering pockets of wind slab from recent storm, especially farther south.
No signs of instability noted in this area.Weather
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- none
- Recent Snowfall
- 30-45
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Broken cloud cover, becoming scattered by the afternoon. Winds were light out of the NE with no wind loading. Solar radiation was intermittent until about 1500.
Snowpack
We dug two pits, both above 8000'. SE aspect HS was 100 cm (3.25 ft.). 30 cm (12") new snow sitting atop a light MF crust with small facets formed just below crust. Moderate failures within new storm snow with no propagation. Hard failures in early February snow above crust complex, no propagation. NW aspect HS was 180 cm (6 ft.). 40-45 cm (16") new snow with no crust and facets. Similar failures at interface with new/old and density changes. No propagation in NW pit. Overall, recent storm snow appeared rightside up with upper 6" soft and loose.