Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Unusually warm day, but drier than Saturday (which is not saying much). We had a variety of types of precipitation except for snow.

Avoided all avalanche terrain and visibility was poor so did not see any signs of avalanches while touring. Snow was wet and heavy on top with a variety of surfaces. Some areas were wet, saturated snow that was punchy. Other areas had a freezing rain/ice crust on the surface with the heavy wet snow underneath. Crust was easily breakable/not supportable. Did not seem to be any aspect link to the ice crust as it was found in all aspects in different areas.

No wind was experienced today but all the trees have been stripped of snow and the snow surface is covered with bits of lichen, needles, etc.

Some areas that were snow covered last weekend are now quite thin, or have rocks or branches poking through. Snow cover was looking pretty thin on Narada Face and the lower Nisqually valley above Glacier Bridge, for example.