Observation: NWAC Forecaster

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Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 10, 2022
Submitted:
March 10, 2022
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Dallas Glass
Zone or Region:
Snoqualmie Pass
Location:
Draft Dodger Ridge/Pineapple Basin (NW-N-E-SE Below and near treeline)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Media/Attachments

Snowprofile from a N aspect near treeline.
Facets were found below the recent snow but above the atmospheric river crust.
1-1.5mm facets just above the atmospheric river crust. (2mm grid)
A small soft slab avalanche failing on facets. Crown 3" deep and 15' wide. SS-ASc-D1-R1-O, N aspect, 4600'.
A small soft slab avalanche failing on facets. Crown 3" deep and 15' wide. SS-ASc-D1-R1-O, N aspect, 4600'.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Wind:
Light , NW

Mostly sunny skies this morning with increasing clouds just as we left the field around noon. Winds were light and barely noticable from the NW. The recent storm (3/8) brough 3-6" of new snow in the area we traveled.

I was able to intentionally trigger two very small soft slab avalanches above the atmospheric river crust. These slabs entrained snow more like a loose dry avalanche but had definable crowns 3-5" deep. You could actually hear the facets running down the slope.

Numerous older frozen debris piles litter the landscape from 2/28-3/1.

Snowpack Observations

Sunny Aspects: Only 3-4" of recent storm snow sits over the atmospheric river crust. This stout layer is very smooth and often icy making travel difficult. The surface on sunny slopes became moist and sticky today. This likely resulted in a breakable crust as temperatures cool.

Shaded Aspects: 4-10" of snow sits over the atmospheric river crust. This is a combination of several small storms since March 2. The most recent storm snow is very loose and unconsolidated. This caps a layer of 1-1.5mm very well developed facets sitting on the atmospheric river crust.

The AR crust is very strong and thick (>25cm, 10inches).

We did not find any evidence of wind transported snow where we traveled today.

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