Front Range
AvalancheRyan Lewthwaite · Dec 30, 2019 · Front Range
Weather
Another chilly morning with minus temperatures, the low was -10F. Clear skies and clam winds from the west. Overnight winds gusted in the mid thirties and transported the new snow.
Snowpack
As the cold nights decompose the snow into facets, the layers of the snowpack become weaker. This is helping loosen older slabs that rest above facetted snow grains. Ultimately the snowpack is becoming more stable over time. Persistent weak layers are still in the deeper portions of the snowpack but they are becoming stubborn to human triggering. There is a moderate concern for wind slab avalanches on east aspects above treeline. This is where the recent snow has been deposited by west winds onto corniced ridgelines and steep isolated terrain features. Exposed slopes have a scoured or contrastingly billowed appearance in gullies. The slabs that have formed from wind transported snow tend to crack locally and are not propagating. The best places to find safer conditions with quality snow are on west aspects near and below treeline.
Avalanche
Small loose dry avalanches R1D1 in size were observed. These sluffs are confined to east aspects above treeline in steep terrain. A couple of small wind slab avalanches in the same steep east facing slopes were also noted. These small slabs were less than a foot deep at the crown and originated from corniced areas of ridgelines. All observed avalanches were naturally occurring, during the storm, and were R1D1 in severity.