Observation: NWAC Forecaster

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Weather Summary

9am overcast shifted to scattered skies by noon. Sun's effect was intense on southerly half, northern half stayed cold.

Snowpack Observations

A slight overnight freeze was a welcome change after 2 days with minimal freezing. This freeze sustained for the time of my outing (until noon) on the northerly half, whereas south-facing slopes softened quickly, becoming unsupportable on feet by noon or shortly after.

Two quick pits were dug at 5300 feet, one on a north-facing slope, and one south-facing at 10am. The south-facing slope's fresh surface snow was rapidly melting off. Beneath that layer was about 30cm of large (3mm) moist melt forms. The top 10cm of that were P hard, and rapidly decreased to 4 finger in the lower portions. Beneath the large moist grains. Small moist 1 finger rounded grains were present. The north-facing pit had a 5cm knife-hard melt-freeze crust under the 5cm of new snow. Beneath that layer the snow remained moist for about 30cm before becoming dry. There were several 1 finger layers in the top 40cm broken up by thin crusts.