Quick report
Winds from the Southwest were redistributing snow at upper elevations throughout the day. Terrain below 7,000 feet was developing a surface crust on solar aspects in the afternoon. Surface hoar was observed between 5,800 and 7,800 feet.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 27
- Cloud Cover
- few
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Rain Elevation
- 4500
- Recent Snowfall
- 30
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
Beautiful day in the mountains, with 1 foot of fresh snow above 7,000 feet. New snow was bonding well to the old surfaces in the areas we traveled. Winds were moderate at the ridgeline from the SW.
Snowpack
On a NW aspect at 7,600 feet, I found 160cm of snow. The new snow measured 1 foot and was sitting on the near-surface facets that formed during the January drought. The January 3rd crust was very thin and was buried 52cm below the surface. At this location, the snowpack was right side up, and I did not have propagation in my extended column test.