Quick report
Today I set out specifically to clarify whether or not snow is present in fetches and on southerly facing slopes, and if it is available for transport. Very minimal snow was available for transport where I traveled today, and minimal blowing snow was observed. However, in the distance towards Mt. Wood I could observe consistent blowing snow in isolated areas. Overall I was surprised that even with strong to extreme SW winds, temps were relatively warm and solar crusts thawed/held wet snow in direct sunlight.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 45/38
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
High winds and quick moving clouds at ridgetops. Winds light to moderate at lower elevations, and non existent in protected terrain. Scattered storms were visible in the distance looking North. Isolated areas of blowing snow could be seen to the North as well.
Snowpack
- Southerly fetches: some scoured to rock/ground, some have snow (up to 60 cm observed)
- If snow is present, it is not easily available for transport
- crusted over
- warm/transitional upper snowpack.
- Some S. faces had small facets atop crusts in protected areas. These facets blew around easily, but did not appear to be loading anywhere.
- If snow is present, it is not easily available for transport
- N facing terrain is variable, with many leeward catchment zones holding facets at the surface. Size varied from .5 - 2 mm facets in N facing terrain I observed today