Quick report
Climbed up to the Apgar Crest to assess conditions prior to the pattern shift this evening. Trial run today with a new Gadget that FNBP has in their arsenal (The Snow Scope by Propagation Labs). This electronic probe is fashioned with two sensors. One measures force and the other measures depth. It allows the user to rapidly collect hardness profiles. Attached to this observation are several pit graphs generated from the Snow Scope. (I can provide more upon request, 8 image max on this form) I selected a handful that I believe represent the average for their aspect/elevation. (aspect and elevation are listed in the title of each graph). I completed one manual observation to take a closer look, and to confirm that the fancy probe knows what it doing. Biggest takeaways from the day were how widespread, large, and upright the surface hoar was in this range. I'm not sure what's more troubling, 20+mm feathers on north and east facing slopes or the facet crust combos developing on southerlies? Light snowfall began around 2:00pm today... Stable conditions.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Wind Loading
- none
- Recent Snowfall
- 1
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
The day began with high pressure and another inversion. The stratus deck hovered around 5000'. By mid afternoon the inversion began to dissipate and was replaced by overcast skies and light snow showers. Calm winds all afternoon.
Snowpack
Insignificant and patchy snow coverage below ~5500 on southerlies. Maximum HS observed was 63cm (6200' NE, sheltered). Surface hoar was widespread and upright on all aspects and elevations. Relatively smaller/shorter grains observed on solar aspects and overlying a thin variable (sometimes supportable) crust. Largest surface hoar grains observed were 20mm (above 6000' on sheltered polar aspects). Not a breath of wind to knock any of it over today... numerous areas with crust facet combos developed in the midpack as well... Its looking like we are in for it.