Sangre de Cristo
SnowpackScott Toepfer · Apr 13, 2013 · Sangre de Cristo
Weather
Advertised winds panned out. They were the big player of the day from snowpack perspective. The strong SW winds were both loading N->E aspects and also keeping the snow surface cool, even below treeline. Temperature was 20 degrees at 6 am, snow surface was well frozen. Impressive assortment of lenticular clouds today.
Snowpack
In general it is a snowpack transitioning from winter to spring. The threat of wind slabs was elevated, the threat for deep persistent slabs remains a lurking problem, and the recent dust event of April 8/9 is becoming a persistent weak layer. Below treeline in this specific area the danger is low, especially with the recent cold temperatures and strong winds. Just not much snow below treeline. I can not see the lower elevations changing unless there is a significant storm. There was significant wind transport today. Large wind banners off many peaks and ridges.