Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Had time for a photo trip, so spent the morning driving around the Pass. Alpental did not open, due to power outage.

Avalanches: Plenty. Loose wet slides from the WAC cliffs touched Alpental Road. Alpental near-BC has both recent glide avalanches and remaining glide cracks. Thin crowns can be found almost everywhere. It might be easier to enumerate the few places that didn't slide, rather than those that did. Avalanches above eastbound I-90 west of the summit scoured down to dirt.

Weather: Overcast in the morning, winds variable and occasionally gusty. Precipitation re-started after dawn. Much of the precipitation particles were graupel as large as 3mm, with raindrops mixed in for good measure. Snowed hard enough to turn the wet roads white.

Snowpack: Notably, the snowpack at the level of Exit 47 is completely gone. Free water is still moving through the snow, with active rivers and lakes on the roadways, especially Alpental Road.

Travel: Snow at pass level was soft/wet/punchy. Overheard discussion of firm/icy conditions at upper elevations.