Observation: NWAC Forecaster

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Weather Summary

Skies full overcast by 11:00 winds gusting to strong in exposed areas, top of Table, Ptarmigan Ridge in addition to high alpine terrain. Loading seemed to vary based on the degree to which crust on windward slopes locked up snow for transport.

Avalanche Observation Comments:

No new from today observed other, just minor cracking and a single, shallow shooting crack NTL on west aspect of Table above Mazama Lake

Snowpack Observations

25cm settled HST over 2/19 - snow surface varies greatly with breakable sun crust over dry, weak snow on south aspects, wind hammered, wind loaded, stiff and reactive, tracked out . . . and a few patches of undisturbed settled powder in shaded, sheltered areas. Weak SH and FC grains that formed at the surface in the last week were disturbed and dispersed by today's wind, low probability of forming a widespread weak layer. Still, they remain in protected NTL terrain and snow surface on the weak side even in some wind affected areas. 2/19 and 2/14 layers did not produce propagation (ECTN) but CTM-SP down 25cm above thin 2/19 MFcr.