Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 11, 2023
Submitted:
March 11, 2023
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Katie Warren
Zone or Region:
East Central
Location:
Salmon La Sac (2500-5800ft; All aspects)

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Media/Attachments

Some very faint old crowns below this corniced ridge.
Some pillow-like drifts on lee aspects was the only signs of wind that we could find.
Small wet loose avalanches running in steep terrain even on shady slopes.
A small loose avalanche from the rocks at upper elevations on Hawkins.
Large cornices formed over the last couple of days with new snow and winds.
View towards Esmerelda.
The new snow over the last two weeks really piled up. 180cm of right-side-up storm snow rests over the Valentine's Crust at 5700ft on an East aspect.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Partly Cloudy
Wind:
Light
New/Recent Snowfall:
HN 30cm

The break in the storm was a lovely change of pace and we enjoyed mostly sunny skies with clouds increasing in the afternoon. Mostly calm winds, but we could see some drifting at ridges.

Snowpack Observations

There were just a few inches of new snow over a moist crust at the SnoPark. New snow totals increased with elevation, and we found approximately 30cm of new snow at 5700ft.

Snow surfaces in the sun moistened quickly, with rollerballs and small wet loose avalanches observed on all aspects by the early afternoon. There was little wind effect even up to the ridges, just minor drifts on lee aspects.

The snowpack is deep in this part of the East Central with snow depths between 250-320cm between 5000-5800ft. We dug a profile on an east aspect at 5700ft. Snow height was 320cm with 180cm of snow, increasing in hardness with depth, over the Valentines Crust. A shovel tilt test and compression test (CTM RP) identified the most recent storm interface down 30cm, but other than that there was minimal layering or notable interfaces in the upper pack.

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