Date of Observation: 02/07/2017
Name: Irwin Guides
Aspect: East, South East, South, South West, West
Elevation: 10,000-12,000
Avalanches: Numerous D1-1.5 windslabs breaking at skis on aggressive ski cuts and shooting cracks up to 30′ across or downslope. No unusual persistent slab behavior observed. Windslabs found on lee and crossloaded terrain features from strong SW winds.
Weather: 8″ storm snow this morning, accumulated to 11″ storm snow. Snowfall rates ranged between 1-2″/hr at times. Winds increased and intensified throughout the day with gusts easily into the 60s at ridgetop. Temperatures rose gradually throughout the day to 27º at study plot (10k) and rose to 21ºF at ridge (12k).
Snowpack: 5″ .5swe during day making storm total 11″ 1.1″swe of heavy dense snow which fell on 2″ of lighter, stellars yesterday. SW winds blowing steady 30-40mph with stronger gusts and creating 2-4′ drifts. Windslabs failing just above widespread suncrusts and windboard. Will continue to monitor new snow and accumulation and development of more widespread storm slabs overnight.
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