Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Weather: Freezing level around 5000'. Dense fog above 5600'. Winds building from 25 mph at 5600' to 50-70 mph at 8250'. Precip started at 1:30 PM, it was rain below 5,000'.

Snow: No sign of soft new snow from Friday and Friday night. It looked like it must have been rain all the way to the rim. There was no blowing snow, even with very high winds at high altitudes. Soft wet snow below the tree line began to firm up at 5000' as temperatures dropped. By 6000' it had a firm icy crust 1-2" thick. Below the crust was soft wet snow with no obvious layers. Above 7500', rime ice was accumulating fast on the snow surface.

Visibility from 5600 - 8250' was very limited, but I saw no avalanche activity (new or old) except for a cornice failure at 5400'.

In deference to the "orange" forecast today, I stayed on the ridges and away from the bowls and valleys.