Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 21, 2023
Submitted:
January 21, 2023
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Irene Henninger
Zone or Region:
West North
Location:
Bearpaw (Up to 5500 )

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Media/Attachments

Wind (barely detectable) and snowfall along the ridgeline at 5500’
Mainly old wind-effect noticeable on the ridge 5500-5700’. Slope testing didn’t yield avalanches.
Compression tests only found slight weaknesses in the top 20cm.
A pit yielded a mainly right side up snowpack broken up by a few crusts. about 20cm below the surface we found a subtle couple cm of lower density snow that had moderate CT’s and an ECTN

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Obscured
Temperature:
23°F
Wind:
Light
New/Recent Snowfall:
About 4” by 3pm

Minimal wind effect where we were except along ridgelines where a small amount of transport was visible. Variable westerly wind.

Snowpack Observations

I went out with the Washington State Snowmobile Association to catch up with members and check out the conditions. It was a great day out!

Snow began around 10:00 and kept snowing light to moderate throughout the day, although it only amounted to about 4” of low density snow by the time I left. Minimal wind was present except along ridgelines where I hardly travelled, so I didn’t find wind slab development. No new avalanches were seen or triggered where we travelled.

About 30cm of snow was present above the MLK crust. The new snow from today has easy rough breaks in pits, but no overlying slab was present. The snowpack was mainly right side up, except for a subtle lower density layer midway down saw moderate compression tests and ECTN with moderate taps. The Xmas crust was down 72cm and the whole snowpack on the NW slope at 5440’ was surprisingly just under 2m deep.

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