Observation: NWAC Forecaster

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Weather Summary

Visibility across the valley to Yellow Aster Butte, Winchester Lookout and Sefrit obscured by 9:30am. Light snow and moderate winds developed by early afternoon.

Snowpack Observations

While below treeline areas have little to no snow, there is enough continuous snow cover near treeline (in most areas) for avalanches to occur. HS hovered around 100cm give or take 20cm. Observed up to 150cm in wind loaded locations around Artist Point @ 5000'.

15-20cm of 4F HST well bonded to the melt freeze crust below. Isolated wind drifts to 50cm deep but no observed avalanches, cracking or other signs of instability noted on numerous test slopes or with other informal tests. Dust on crust riding with minor loose dry in steep terrain. Remainder of snowpack to the ground observed to be strong + well bonded - a mix of melt forms and crusts. In the NTL around Heather Meadows , it appears rainfall on 11/22 and 11/25 erased any remaining surface hoar and facets that developed during the mid-November drought. Could be a different story regarding PWL in other parts of the zone or at higher elevations. No obs ATL.