Quick report
No avalanches or signs of instability observed. Road cuts along highway showed signs of a rollerball cycle from the previous day.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 32
- Cloud Cover
- few
- Wind Loading
- none
- Rain Elevation
- n/app
- Recent Snowfall
- 0
- Snow Avail For Transport
- none
Strong valley inversion with temperatures at the pass 10 degrees above Missoula valley temperatures. Minimal wind. Few high clouds with short periods of full sun.
Snowpack
The Lolo pass area recieved prolonged periods of rain during the late November storms and this showed in the snowpack with a 1 foot thick layer of melt-freeze crust. At 5800', there was a few inches of facets directly above the ground that stayed dry during these rain events. At higher elevation, I expect that dry faceted layer to be thicker and the crust thinner. At the top of the snowpack, 3-4 inches of dry snow from the tail end of the November storms is rapidly turning to near surface facets. Surface hoar was present in areas that didn't recieve direct sunlight Monday.
Overall, minimal instability concerns around Lolo Pass today. South aspects across the highway have melted significantly with dirt showing on many slopes. Lower elevations do not hold snow and have no avalanche concerns on all aspects.
Avalanche
No avalanches observed.