Front Range
AvalancheAmanda Loughlin · Apr 27, 2024 · Front Range
Weather
Temps in the 20s and 30s, moderate northeast winds, light snowfall all day, and overcast skies.
Avalanche
There was 12 inches of new snow this morning with light snowfall and snow transport throughout the day. A hand shear test on southwest aspect below treeline revealed a wet melt freeze crust (MFcr) under the new snow. As I traveled to easterly aspects near treeline, I noticed in less wind effected areas a storm slab forming and, in more wind effected areas a soft wind slab forming. The first snow pit on southeast aspect at 10,400ft with a height of snow (HS) of 145cm revealed a foot of new snow over graupel, a 4F hard moist to wet melt form layer, over P to K hard slabs. This structure was not reactive to an extended column test with a result of ECTX. It did produce results on compression test (CT) with scores of CT2 @↓20cm (RP) on precipitation particles and CT25 @↓45cm (SC) on 4F dust layer. The second snow pit was dug 110cm down on an east aspect at 10,900ft with HS of 265 revealed wind-broken precipitation particles over precipitation particles, P-K hard slabs, an ice layer, and a K+ slab. The initial CT produced CTN and a second CT produced CT14@↓20cm (RP) on the new snow.