Front Range
SnowpackSpencer Logan · May 22, 2019 · Front Range
Weather
Obscured in the morning becoming broken after noon. When the sun came through, the temperatures skyrocketed. Occasional squalls moved through, with some periods of S2. Winds were intermittent and gusty. Ridgetop winds were westerly and drifting some snow.
Snowpack
North, northeast, east aspects above treeline: Recent storm snow well-bonded to old snow surface. Within the storm snow, there are several layers of drifted or settled snow, sandwiching layers of less cohesive snow. The layering is highly variable. Minor cracking in some spots, and easy shears. It would be easy to trigger shallow avalanches on steep slopes with stiff and drifted snow.
Southwest, west, northwest, north aspects below treeline: Warm temperatures and sun quickly settled recent snow after noon. Surface snow was wet, and easily produced large pinwheels and roller balls on very steep slopes.