Steamboat & Flat Tops
SnowpackAnonymous ยท Jan 18, 2013
Weather
Clear day, moderate summit wind, second day of full inversion, summit temp 25F, base temp -0F. Early week and last weekend saw arctic temps base to summit(-15F and lower). Wind wasn't strong enough today to really get snow moving but facets formed during the cold has left some snow available for transport since last wind event. Several days of strong solar radiation is forming thin crusts on southern aspects which are overlying NSF and storm slab. Another warm day on southern slopes may introduce melt water for the first time this year. Northern aspects seeing slight solar influence.
Snowpack
Snow height varies on NE aspects. 60-70in on lee sides of ridges at 10200ft, 40-50in in basin bottoms at 9500ft. Light snow early week and last week left a storm slab of 5-10in. Moderate to light winds accompanied the snow and formed small wind slabs near ridges. An inversion pattern 10+ days ago was strengthening the pack near summits and weakening it near basin bottoms. Overall, the arctic cold halted any strengthening of the snowpack and quickly faceted the snow surface. Snow Profile: Top 10in SH and NSF forming in wind/storm slab. Small solar crust at 10in. 10-25in NSF and SH formed during the last dry period 10+ days ago, SH layer more continuous in basin bottoms. 25-50in is the 1F/pencil storm slab from December which seems to be neither gaining nor losing strength but collapes in this layer have stopped. 50-60in DH, chains formed but some rounds on top. Minor shallow collapsing (on crust at 10in) occuring in basins but overall snowpack seems solid, unreactive and verifies as Moderate, low risk, high consequence danger.