Quick report
Today I visited the Microwave Hill area to assess the impacts of ongoing rain-on-snow. Snow coverage has improved since my last visit, but continued rainfall is taking a clear toll on the snowpack. Saturated snow surfaces were widespread, and overall snow depths continue to decrease. Coverage measured roughly 1–1.5 feet near the parking lot, increasing to around 3 feet at 4,300 feet. Rain runnels, fresh roller balls, and wet, heavy snow all suggest the snow has taken on water.
Riding conditions continue to be quite shallow and risky if you venture off of the road. In general, this area has been ridden pretty hard, with lots of whoopties as the snow gets deeper.
Many signs pointed toward a saturated snowpack. Snow surfaces were wet, had dimpled textured, with rain runnels in places. Fresh roller balls could be found virtually every observed steep slope.Weather
- Air Temp
- 38
- Cloud Cover
- obscured
- Wind Loading
- none
- Rain Elevation
- 8,000
- Recent Snowfall
- 0
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Rain fell throughout the morning, with temperatures near 40 degrees F in the parking lot, and low clouds hanging in the Pass. Warm air blew lightly at low elevations.
Snowpack
I snow pit was dug at 4,300 feet on a southwest aspect. As suspected, snow has become damp to wet, all the way down to 1/3 crust, where water could be seen within. Below the crust, the snow was drier, although still experiencing some collection of water. Upon compression test, failure occurred on top of the 1/3 crust, though no propagation occurred in extended column tests.