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Professional Observation

       

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
November 27, 2022
Submitted:
November 27, 2022
Observer:
Everett Phillips | ESAC Forecaster
Zone or Region:
Virginia Creek
Location:
Virginia Lakes - SW Winds and Near Surface Facets

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Key Points

Very little to discuss in terms of avalanche hazard today.

Ridgetop winds were moving faceted snow off peaks and ridges and down into Near Treeline terrain throughout the day.

 

 

Media

Near Surface Facets covering a Melt-Freeze crust on the snow surface. NE, 10100' (NTL), 40deg rollover.
Near-Surface Facets formed by Radiation Recrystallization above a MF crust.
NW 11200' - Virginia Creek
SW winds blowing faceted snow along ridgelines.
Foreground: Wind-packed surface snow. Background: blowing snow blasting facets off ridges and peaks.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
23F
Wind:
Moderate , SW

Mostly sunny skies today with high temperatures above freezing at 10,000′.

Wind was moderate out of the Southwest with stronger gusts. Snow transport was evident along ridgelines throughout the day.

No precip. today.

Snowpack Observations

Height of snow and surface form by elevation in Virginia Creek:

BTL: HS 0 – 60cm, Soft faceted snow in shaded areas. Melt-freeze crusts of various hardness and thickness on sun exposed slopes.

NTL: HS 0 – 90cm, Wind board / winds crusts dominate in exposed areas. Melt Freeze crusts are present on exposed E and SE aspects. S and SW facing slopes are mostly snow free. Near surface facets are present around the wind and melt-freeze crusts. Loose blowing facets are scattered and drifted across Near Treeline bowls and leeward terrain features.

ATL: HS 0 – 90cm, Wind deposited or wind eroded snow. The snowpack below the wind-packed surface is faceted top to bottom.

 

 

 

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