The Super Bowl Pre-game crust

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Central Whitefish Range
Observation date: 
Saturday, February 1, 2020 - 14:15
Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
Yes
Observation made by: Forecaster

Tabs

Quick Observation

In today's quick tour from Olney, we found wet instabilities beginning to stabilize while wind slabs were starting to develop.

  • Last night’s rain event reached to at least 7000’, causing widespread rollerballs and a few wet loose avalanches. The snow surface was refrozen by mid day at upper elevations and was starting to refreeze at mid elevations as temperatures cooled through the day. 
  • Despite extreme winds and a tree-blow-down massacre, there was limited snow available for transport overnight or this morning thanks to the high-reaching rain. Periods of moderate to heavy snowfall started mid-day, and with it, periods of intense blowing snow. We left mid-day, but at that point, wind slabs were in their infancy and not much of a concern yet.  
  • We skied steep terrain where the snow surface was frozen and while wind slabs hadn’t developed yet. We stayed away from the type of terrain where deep slabs have released this season. 
  • Field day video is here. 
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Travel Details
Region: 
Whitefish Range - Northern (north of Coal Creek)
Route Description: 

To 7000'

Activity: 
Skiing
Snowmobiling
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details: 
Hide Terrain
Elevation of observation: 
5000-6500 ft
Above 6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation: 
N
NE
Red Flags: 
Rain on snow
Blowing snow
Rapid or prolonged warming
Rollerballs / pinwheels
Persistent Weak Layers: 
Not observed
New Snow in the past 24 hours: 
1.00in.
More comments about the snowpack and weather: 
2/1 crust is breakable and thinner with elevation, expect it reached to mountain tops in this area. It was about 1 to 2 cm thick at 7000’, with some moist snow below it. Only a cm of new snow on top of the crust by midday.
Blowing Snow: 
Intense
Wind Speed: 
Extreme (Gale force)
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Snow line: 
Decreased to 5500’ by mid day
Sky Cover: 
Increasing clouds
Highest Precipitation Rate: 
Heavy Snowfall (S5)
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Saturday, February 1, 2020 - 04:30
Number of avalanches: 
3
Avalanche Type: 
Wet Loose
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
Within storm snow
Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
natural
Hide Terrain
Starting Elevation: 
near-treeline
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D1 Relatively harmless to people.
Relative Size: 
R1 Very Small
Crown Height: 
Less than 1 ft
Avalanche Location: