Granted, it wasn't pow

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Middle Fork
Observation date: 
Sunday, March 31, 2019 - 16:15
Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
No
Observation made by: Forecaster

Tabs

Quick Observation

Surveyed nearly full elevation range in the Middle Fork today.

  • Primarily easterly slopes (ESE-NE) with a little NW-N thrown in.
  • Nary a rollerball to be seen.
  • Glide cracks starting to open on east-northeast facing slopes below about 7200 feet with rock slabs at bed surface. 
  • Southerly, upper elevation slopes may have produced more slides since peak of natural cycle last week, but difficult to date debris.
  • Northeasterly, shaded slopes had thin crust over moist snow, with up to an inch of dry snow on top of the crust. Probably formed from yesterday's (3/30) intense radiation. Couldn't tell  storm totals for this week - up to 8" recent/ drifted snow on northerly slopes above ~6500 feet.
  • Clouds limited heating to the snow surface, and since they moved in when the surface was frozen, did not produce much greenhousing.
  • Ripe corn on easterly slopes below 6500 feet early-mid afternoon.
  • Snow surface remained supportable on skis at valley bottoms mid to late afternoon.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Travel Details
Region: 
Flathead Range - Middle Fork Corridor
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details: 
Hide Terrain
Aspect(s) of observation: 
N
NE
E
SE
NW
New Snow in the past 24 hours: 
0.10in.
More comments about the snowpack and weather: 
Mostly cloudy all day, though more breaks and more sun early-mid afternoon. Some late morning flurries. Ridgeline winds blowing a little snow over cornices. Upper-elevation south facing slopes thin and rocky - combo of scouring from avalanches and sun.
Blowing Snow: 
Light
Wind Speed: 
Light (Twigs in motion)
Wind Direction: 
West
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Sky Cover: 
Mostly Cloudy (BRK)
Highest Precipitation Rate: 
Very Light Snowfall (S-1)
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Sunday, March 31, 2019 - 21:30