Gunnison

Snowpack

(Public) Crested Butte Avalanche Center · Nov 23, 2021 · Gunnison

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Weather

Weather: SCT->BKN->OVC by 12:30pm Light to Moderate NNW winds increasing to consistent moderate SW winds with sporadic strong gusts. 36°F @ 9,400? 31°F @ 11,000? S-1@13:00, S1 @13:30 (12,000?) No riming observed

Snowpack

Snowpack: Overall, the snowpack is inconsistent and terrain/aspect dependent which has been the trend. No tests were conducted but snowpack in sheltered and exposed terrain shows poor structure. Most wind sheltered areas do not have a slab component with unsupportive and cohesionless facets making up the bulk of the snowpack. As the winds picked up, active transport was visible with plenty of low-density snow available for this storm to throw around. The surface hoar observed from 9,800?-11,500? will be tomorrows potential weak layer if there is enough accumulation from this pulse. Where surface hoar isn’t present, 1-4? of fresh or wind stiffened snow exists over a 1-2cm MFcr 10,000? and up.