Quick report
- Red Flags
- Heavy Snowfall, Poor Snowpack Structure
Time: 11:45 AM
Elevation appx. 6100'
Temperature 22°f
Weather: Sunny
Slope angle 32°
Aspect: NNE
New snow accumulations are adding stress to an aging snowpack containing a persistent slab that rests on facets. The concern here is that much of the terrain holding these conditions sits above hiking trails used by the public. Until the snowpack heals, this layer has the potential to propagate when triggered. Even the lower elevation N-E aspects can be triggered in relatively protected terrain.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Significant new snowfall (18-20") is resting on a persistent slab layer. Snowpack depth to the ground is 30 inches. Appx. 4 inches of wet facets are found at the ground. Above the facets is a 3-4 inch persistent, 2 finger-hard slab, consistent with the previous storm. Above this slab is all new snow.</p> <p>The persistent slab found around 4 inches from the ground rests on facets. A Q1 failure was observed at 5th tap from the elbow resulting in the propagation of the slab on the facets all the way to the ground. Snowpack does not seem to have a good bond to the ground.</p>