Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
We set out to observe snowfall rates and look for developing new wind slabs in Virginia Lakes. We traveled on W - E aspects in below and near treeline terrain, 9800' - 10000'. We experienced steady moderate snowfall rates and increasing SW winds - strong with extreme gusts by the time of our departure. Visibility was minimal in exposed terrain with intense amounts of blowing snow. The air was humid, and temperatures hovered around freezing.
New snow wasn't readily forming slabs by the time we left, but we experienced isolated cracking underfoot, and we were able to ski cut very small, isolated pockets of soft, developing wind slabs (5 cm - 20 cm) on some steeper leeward test slopes. See snowpack for more info.
We departed early to ensure we could navigate the road out. If snowfall and winds continue as expected through the remainder of the afternoon, you could expect wind slabs to increase in thickness and reactivity.
Isolated cracking - mostly underfoot - on some small windloaded test slopes. Also observed cracking within the new storm snow in some sheltered areas.Weather
- Air Temp
- 32
- Cloud Cover
- obscured
- Wind Loading
- intense
- Rain Elevation
- ~7500'
- Recent Snowfall
- 5 - 10 cm
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Winds increased in intensity alongside steady snowfall rates throughout the late morning hours. By early afternoon, winds were consistently strong with extreme gusts, and blowing snow was intense.
Snowpack
- As of 1 pm, a trace to ~10 cm of new snow sits on top of one of the following surface types:
- Thin MF crust from yesterday, 12/28
- F hard DF (decomposing fragments) on top of 12/24 interface
- P hard older WS from the 12/26 - 12/27 wind event
- Rock and dirt
- This new snow is either sublimating in strong/extreme winds, wind affected and compressed, or actively forming soft, small, stubborn to reactive windslabs on N - E terrain below and near treeline.
- In this area, exposed S - NW slopes are scoured
- HS observed: 0 cm - 139 cm