Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
Observed a slab layer (2F-4F) sandwiched between two very loose layers on a 35 degree slope that is somewhat sheltered from the wind. With more snow and wind, this layer will likely have some unpredictable behavior. 0-15 cm F and loose/sugary (FCxr); 15-55 cm more consolidated 2-4F, rounded/faceted grains (RGxf). Wind packing in top 2 cm layer that was hard (k). Wind packing observed/ more prolific in unsheltered areas. Check out photo from obs book/videos for more info on instability
Weather
- Air Temp
- 30
- Cloud Cover
- few
- Wind Loading
- intense
- Recent Snowfall
- 0
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Sunny, winds building from the SW all afternoon to extreme at time of observation, intense wind scouring down to rocks in some places, with transport of loose snow in 45-55mph winds
Snowpack
0-15cm is sugary and weak (fist). The topmost layer (below wind crust), 60cm-55cm is also soft (fist-4F). Compression test (see video) shows how this creates a slab sandwiched by weak layers. Although there isn't much snowpack, if we get more snow, this layer could present as a persistent (and confusing) slab similar to what has been reported in other observations in the forecast area where there is more snow. Areas where snow is being deposited by the wind will also create some unpredictable inconsistencies with new snow loading.