Quick report
- Aspect
- Northeast
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 3353 m
- Slope Angle
- 22°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>I observed areas with recent deposits of wind drifted snow, primarily above treeline on N-NE-E aspects. Wind slabs are generally located in areas where the main threat is triggering a deeper avalanche on buried facets. Northerly aspects are very weak with faceted layers from top to bottom beneath the most recent snow. Depths range from 100-140 cms. Southerly aspects are much thinner, and many were bare prior to the last storm. I observed facet crust combinations on these aspects but did not observe a widespread weak layer. </p>
The current snowpack is tenuous and variable although it is showing a trend toward greater stability since the storm on February 14. In my travels today, I observed no collapsing of the snowpack whereas it was widespread a couple of days ago. The most consistently poor snowpack structure exists on northerly aspects near treeline and below where recent snow has stressed the underlying, faceted snowpack. The February 11, faceted layer also appears to be the most widespread in these areas. Above treeline northerly aspects display much more variability due to heavy wind erosion during the January high pressure. On southerly aspects, the distribution of the February 11, faceted layer is also quite variable due to periods of moderate to strong SW winds. Additionally, southerly aspects lacked consistent snow cover prior to February 11, and the storm on Feb 14, to make this a widespread problem in these areas.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Although the entire snowpack on northerly aspects is faceted beneath the recent snow, the primary layer of concern has been the old snow surface. 2" of snow fell on Feb 11 and subsequently faceted. This weak layer produced widespread collapsing over the weekend, and stability tests produced easy failures. In my travels today I did not observer any collapsing of the snowpack, but an extended column test on a NE aspect at 11,000' produced results of ECTP17 on this faceted layer. </p> <p></p> <p>I also dug pits on SE and SW aspects at around 10,800' but I did not find the Feb 11, faceted weak layer. Extended column tests produced no results in either pit. </p> <p>SW aspect at 10.800' New snow above a stout crust with a layer of facets underneath. ECTX, no results. </p> <p>SE aspect, 10,600'. Recent snow on top of a thick, pencil to knife hard melt freeze layer. ECTX, no results. </p> <p>I observed areas of wind drifted snow on upper elevation north through easterly aspects. These should be stabilizing with the greatest concern being the additional stress they are adding to persistent weak layers. I did not observe any wind slab instability near treeline or below. </p>
It's been four days since the storm when we picked up 15" of new snow at 2.4" SWE. NW winds over the past couple of days have affected the surface to varying degrees in open areas but abundant soft snow can still be found. Solar aspects were getting damp from the strong sun.
Great to finally see some snow but conditions remain thin, especially on solar aspects. Open areas had varying degrees of wind affect.