Snow Cover
• 200 cm • Heavy snow drift • 25 cm • Much loose snow (10-30cm) • Dry • Good • 1150m snow surface was stripped of snow by wind even on east facing slopes, there was a small amount of accumulation behind features but only 5cm. We travelling down the slop to lower elevation 1140m to where some of the snow was deposited.
Weather
• Snow • -2 °C • 18 m/s from NW ↘ • 100% clouds • Was hard to establish whether the snow accumulation was from blown snow or falling snow. Cloud cover broke at end of observations trip to 50% cloud cover.
Tests
• ECTP11@20cm(SP) • Poor • ECTP11 good propagation through slab. When handled it broke semi easily so had more storm slab quality than wind slab. The slab broke at the interface between F and 1F so I would conclude that this was a wind slab/new snow slab poorly bonded. There was too much blown snow to isolate snow crystals for analysis or size.
Snow Profile
• E • 15° • 1 test connected to snow profile • We chose this area as it is respresentive of where we woukd expect to see new despostied snow and an aspect many people ski at the ski centre. • 8 Stratigraphy layers • 12 temperature points observed
Avalanche Problems
• Dry slab avalanche • Buried weak layer of new snow • Within half a meter • The weak layer collapses easily and clean (easy propagation). The overlying slab is soft. • Very easy to trigger • 3 - Large • Some steep slopes N, NE, E, SE, S above 500 masl • The storm slab/new snow is very reactive poorly bonding to the snow that has been deposited from the past days. The slab layer at the moment is soft however might stiffen up over time to form a more cohesive wind slab. Travelling to test sight I heard no danger signs (cracking, propagation, or drønn) form this layer.
Avalanche Danger Assessment
• The new snow has not yet formed a good bond so storm slab/wind slab is our main problem at this elevation on slopes to the lee. I was unable to test any higher so am interested in seeing tomorrow if we are able to see stiffer wind slab at higher elevations.
At this sight we did not find a deep persistent weak layer. • As the storm passes the reactive slab might stiffen and become and more cohesive slab. Wind slab should be monitored as weather improves over the next 24hrs. • 3 Considerable • Forecast correct • I will be able to dig a more detailed pit tomorrow at a higher elevation when the storm has pasted and so will allow for more detailed observations on crystals and sizes of form. I am also interested in trying to find buried facets to identify where the buried weak layer.