Professional Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Key Points

Toured with AIARE L1 group today to the top of Panorama Dome, mostly working on rescue skills but able to get a couple of short laps in and make observations on the beginning of the storm.

• At 0730 Tair at 8300′ was 32 degrees, and snow line began just above.
• Snowfall rates at 8900′ were mostly S2 during the day with occasional periods up to S5.
• HST at this elevation was 20cm and counting.
• Informal tests such as hand shears and kickturn tests reliably identified the new snow/old snow interface, but given how warm the storm began, the new snow seemed well-glued and resistant to fail on the old snow surface.
• While the new snow was moist and heavy there seemed to be low likelihood of wet instabilities above the 8600′ level with little saturation of the snowpack at this elevation.