Observation: NWAC Observer

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 12, 2023
Submitted:
January 12, 2023
Observer:
NWAC Observer - Brooke Maushund
Zone or Region:
East Central
Location:
Icicle Creek Drainage (SE-E-NW // BTL-ATL)

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Media/Attachments

HN24 10cm as shown in filling of day old skin track
Recent loose wet avalanche
Overcast conditions periodically opened NTL elevations
Above the denser clouds
An older (past ~24hrs) wet loose slide covered with recent snow
Evidence of past wind loading along the ridge
D1 avalanche debris

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Overcast
Temperature:
32°F
Wind:
Light , W
New/Recent Snowfall:
HST=26cm / HN24=10cm

•Wx was OBS fog down low at parking, but then OVC sky cover 0920 at the base of Jay. At 4700' at 1100 we were able to see small breaks in the clouds far enough to see across the drainage, but breaks were brief and small. At 1200 at 6200' OVC skys still present but with less coverage settling into the drainage, allowing us to see more terrain around us, and across the drainage.
•Temperatures hovered between -2°C to 0°C at varying elevations, aspects throughout tour
•Precipitation came as all snow of varying dryness. Winds were calm until reaching the exposed section of the ridgeline, where we got a light W wind. New snow was very, very lightly being transported.
•Precip over time:
0946 S-1
1023 NO
1100 NO
1230 S1+
1243 S2

We saw more than 5 small D1 wet loose avalanches on varying aspects & elevations, including NTL on W facing terrain in addition of sun-exposed S terrain. These varied from appearing 1 day old to recent during the day today.

Snowpack Observations

•Quick hand pits looking for cohesion / shear did not indicate slabbing / cohesion of the new storm snow. No cracking on snow surface
•We did not see any signs of the persistent slab problem, including past larger avalanches running on a deeper layer. However we did not dig a pit to target the problem
•With temperatures and precipitation increasing throughout the day, the snow surfaces went from drier, loose snow to more wet and gloppy, with slush down in the parking lot at the end of the day which was not present at the beginning
•HST 26cm in sheltered, treed areas, with HN24 10cm as shown in filling of day old skin track (see photo)
•Ridgeline showing evidence of past wind loading

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slab Problem: Quick hand pits looking for cohesion / shear did not indicate slabbing / cohesion of the new storm snow. No cracking on snow surface
Persistent Slab Problem: We did not see any signs of the persistent slab problem, including past larger avalanches running on a deeper layer
Wet Loose Problem: We did see more than 5 small D1 wet loose problems on varying aspects & elevations, including NTL on W facing terrain