Saint Paul

A notably deeper snowpack was observed in this location compared to recent observations in other IPAC forecast zones. Snowpack heights of around 3 feet are deep enough on open slopes with sufficient ground coverage to connect terrain features together. Overall snowpack character, snow grain structure and its current significance, are similar to other zones. The current storm is building and increasing cohesive slabs above weak faceted snow grains.

We found about 30cm (1 ft) snow depths near 5200 feet. We transitioned to foot travel at 6450 feet. Soft low density new snow on the surface is readily available for wind transport. A hasty pit at around 6500 feet and a full profile pit at 7250 feet on a southwest aspect show similar snowpack structure as our neighboring forecast zones. In the full profile location we observed small faceted grains on top of and between two crusts, located 25cm and 40cm down from today's snow surface. The most well developed facets lie 50cm down, sitting on top of the mid-November rain crust. At this location the lower half of the snowpack, bottom 70cm, consists of K hard saturated then refrozen snow. 

Snowpack tests produced moderate to hard force results with sudden planar and sudden collapse character. Performing a PST, we observed short cut lengths but slab fracture results. Test results were not as prior anticipated, but a concerning snowpack structure exists. As slab cohesion likely increases in the coming days from more snow and warmer temps, the weaker faceted grains within will be slower to change.