Sawatch

Snowpack

5" of new snow @ 7% SWE. Strong W and SW winds have added additional loading at treeline on E-NE aspects. Cracking and shooting cracks at the tips of skis has been observed, but the current load has not been enough to get anything moving downhill. Small, isolated pockets have been running around cliff bands where faceted snow is more readily found at the surface. Slabs at the ridgeline are still soft at this time, but with the forecasted winds, harder slabs will most likely be developing overnight. Some graupel was observed mid storm around 13:30. Snowfall intensity has waivered back and forth throughout the day with some periods more intense than others. Winds seemed to have picked up this afternoon.