Observation: NWAC Forecaster

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Weather Summary

Last night's snow accumulated above ~ 2000ft, slowly increasing to 20cm by 4500ft. No visible ongoing transport was noticeable when I was out, yet small amounts of snow have recently been transported into low-density drifts. Snow fell all day, varying in intensity but averaging S-1.

Snowpack Observations

My trip began at about 1500ft where there was about 1 1/2 ft (40cm) of old snow with a thin, damp layer of new snow on top. Wet snow was falling at that elevation as I began my day.

At 5000ft about 20cm of dry storm had fallen. The new snow was covering a crust on a steeper southerly aspect at 4700ft, and most snow depths were around 1m in south-facing terrain. Less steep south-facing slopes didn't have as thick of a crust beneath the new snow layer. On northerly aspects about 1.5 meters of snow was present, and the snow was mainly right side up in the upper half of the snowpack. Steep slopes produced surface sluffs as I skied across the top of the slope.

Slight wind transport evidence was visible about 4500ft, yet drifts were all very soft and no cracking was noted. Minimal cornice development was present along ridgelines at 5000ft.