Front Range

Initially was snowing around 3cm/hr and steadily decreased to 1cm/hr. Winds were moderate and primarily out of the NW with moderate wind-loading occurring.

Around 10cm of low density, new snow had fallen and was actively snowing at time of this observation. The new snow is falling on a 10cm knife hard crust which was present on all elevations and aspects other than true north. The new snow is presently not bonding well to this crust with active sloughing and very sensitive storm slab forming. Below the surface crust there are at least two more fairly thick crusts present within the snowpack, which are sandwiched between weak, poorly bonded facets. Compression tests failed on the lowest crust layer with ECTP13 and PST 45/100 arrest on the interface between the crust and overlying facets approximately 50cm deep.