Front Range
SnowpackRyan Zarter · Mar 18, 2022 · Front Range
Weather
Very little wind transport was observed as I was travelling to the pass today. Winds picked up early in the afternoon, driving periods of moderate wind transport at ridge top both around Berthoud and around the Tunnels and Loveland Pass.
Snowpack
On a southeast aspect near to just above treeline, I found the most recent storm snow sitting on top of a thin but hard melt-freeze crust. This sits on top of new snow from earlier in the week. Below this was a thick, knife hard layer of wind deposited snow. Non-propagating ECT results just below the melt-freeze crust. I did not observe much in the way of cohesion or slab formation in the new snow, except on more southerly aspects where warming by the sun was starting to settle yesterday's snow. North to northeast aspects near and below treeline remained cold. If we see winds continue to move snow overnight, I would imagine that the slab that was missing today will be present by the morning.