Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 03/02/2019
Name: Irwin Cat Operation
Subject: Irwin Cat OperationCat Operation
Weather: Low cloud layer and strong SSW gusts kept visibility to a minimum, difficult visibility kept us off the higher elevation drops all morning. S5 snowfall rates all morning. We picked up another 10″ on the
H2D by 12:30. And although it is gusting, I believe those are real time totals. Precip ended around 1300 and skies were OVC.
We picked up HST 15 with 1.55″ SWE since 2/28. Felt maritime. 10″ from 8:00-12:00pm
Snowpack: Ski pen averaged 15cm. Only observations were underfoot as there was no surrounding visibility. Snow came in high density. At some point, probably early AM there was a graupel event and can see those “ball bearings” on the 2/28 crust, in some places they rolled down into the convexities, and can only detect in hand shears after digging below storm slab. Surprisingly minimal cracking or sloughing. The winds have been raging though and I believe we will see this slab stiffen up sooner then later. NTL/BTL West and protected south still had good ski pen, Exposed south was minimal, 5cms or so.