Quick report
- Most terrain BTL and NTL was wind scoured or wind loaded, with the exception of the most protected areas BTL.
- Stubborn to unreactive wind slabs up to 5" thick observed BTL and NTL.
- Some start zones stripped to crust/rock, while wind drifts sit lower down slope.
- No fresh activity observed.
- Low to Mod amounts of snow available for transport here. Of note, many other areas were observed today via highway with intense amounts of blowing snow or intense previous wind affect (post 12/24 storm).
Weather
- Air Temp
- 38/30/34
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Recent Snowfall
- 5 - 15 cm
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
It was VERY windy in the alpine today, as seen from HWY 395! However, where I traveled, winds were mild midday, and slowly picking up in steadiness and intensity. Around 4 pm, ridgetop winds were moderate to strong, and gusts extreme. By the time I exited, winds BTL were moderate and gusts were strong to extreme. Temperatures were well above freezing up to ~ 9500', where they dropped just below freezing. The sun was out in the early afternoon, but cloud cover picked up along with winds as the afternoon continued. It was barely beginning to precipitate when I left the field.
Snowpack
- HS 0 - 144 cm observed today
- Stubborn to unreactive wind slabs (up to 5" observed) sit atop a small amount of decomposing precip particles, and then over a ~ 2 cm crust layer (12/24 - pre storm).
- 12/24 crust layer varies in hardness and thickness. Unbreakable crust was found @ higher elevations (closer to 10K), while breakable crust with facets beneath was found @ lower elevations where the snowpack is shallower. Where the snowpack is deeper @ lower elevations, a largely cohesive snowpack sits below the 12/24 crust, EXCEPT for the thin 12/14 crust layer. Where I dug, I did not find facets of concern above or below this interface.
- CT 7 RP on 12/24 interface, ECTN 11.
- No results on 12/14 interface in this location, today.