Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
December 17, 2022
Submitted:
December 17, 2022
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Dallas Glass
Zone or Region:
Snoqualmie Pass
Location:
Chair Peak, Snow Lake, Source Lake (All aspects near and below treeline, 3100-5400ft)

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Media/Attachments

Sun crust with surface hoar on S aspects.
Snow profile on the S side of Chair Peak.
Snow profiles on the N side of Chair Peak.
Surface hoar and near surface facets prior to the new snow were found on nearly all slopes Saturday near Snoqualmie Pass. N, 5100ft

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Partly Cloudy
Wind:
Moderate , NW
New/Recent Snowfall:
No new snow.

Increasing high clouds in the morning, with some low fog rolling in just before lunch. Cold. Winds were only really noticeable on the ridgeline.

No new avalanches were observed.

Snowpack Observations

S-Asp: A breakable sun crust (3-4cm) formed this week. Often it was capped by near surface facets and/or small surface hoar. The 12/8 layer did not produce any failures in our profile at 5000ft.

Shaped Asp: Well-settled snow (DF). Right-side-up with fragments transitioning to strong rounded grains. Surface hoar (3-5mm) was found as high as 5200ft in sheltered areas. A snow profile at 5100ft N showed the 12/8 and 12/5 surface hoar layers but they did not fail in any tests.

While winds were blowing on the ridgelines, we did not see any active wind loading. Wind affected snow seemed localized to right at ridgecrest.

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