Steamboat & Flat Tops

Snowpack

Joe Messina · Feb 29, 2016 · Steamboat & Flat Tops

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Weather

Snowing and light winds gusting to moderate of the west and northwest. Temperature taken from Storm Peak Lab, it was a little warmer down in the canyon. About one inch of new snow. Flakes were rimed stellars, then transitioned to graupel with what appeared to be a cold front passage, although looking at SPL data it wasn't a terribly pronounced front. Wind picked up in early afternoon.

Snowpack

Thin rime ice crust on all aspects near the surface. Crust formed Feb 15 and was buried Feb 19 by about 6" snow. Crust is most pronounced in areas not shaded by trees. Melt-freeze crust on all sunny aspects.