Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>While we were unable to break any wind slabs, they have likely formed after a sustained windy period. Widespread transport of new snow.</p>
While we were expecting to find high new snow totals, it appears that sustained winds overnight transported most new snow and buffed the snow surface. Fresh snow was found in pockets and had a dense, packed quality. New snow fell mostly as graupel and dip n dots, accompanied by gusty winds and broken skies. Fortunately, most old tracks have filled in and the new snow was fun but not blower.
Forecaster Comment: The conditions today were quite deceiving. I was able to confirm 12" of new snow by taking manual measurements and digging a pit in a sheltered locations. I also measured the storm board, and it was not drifted in by the wind. Like Sam said above, the wind blew away most of the snow on any windward slope, and in some places it was hard to tell that it snowed at all. The new snow was very dense, and even with 12" of new snow, ski penetration was only a few inches.
Snowpack
Strong overnight winds scoured and transported most new snow. The remaining new snow was dense and supportive, skiing a bit like styrofoam.