Dry on one side, wet on the other

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Flathead Range
Observation date: 
Saturday, March 21, 2020 - 20:30
Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
Yes
Observation made by: Forecaster

Tabs

Quick Observation

Toured to the Flathead Crest to observe weak layer growth and snow surface conditions.  

  • Small-grained near-surface facets are fairly widespread on northwest through northeast aspects. These are most developed in areas where the wind hasn't tampered much with the snow, but we could also see these grains developing on top of wind board at higher elevations.  
  • In isolated areas, most commonly near alpine ridges, we saw 2mm surface hoar. In almost every location we saw it, it was knocked over by today's southwest winds or sunshine.
  • The upper 2" to 8" of the snow surface got wet today on E-S-W aspects, depending on aspect and elevation. We saw no natural slides or rollerballs, but we did unintentionally trigger a couple of small wet loose slides. These were on ENE aspects at 5200' - where the snow was soft and had seen minimal surface warming until today.  Other aspects seemed to be unreactive or minor rollerballs where we traveled.  
  • We skied a number of steep northerly avalanche paths and saw only shallow sluffing in the surface facets.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Travel Details
Region: 
Flathead Range - Middle Fork Corridor
Route Description: 

To 7500'

Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details: 
Hide Terrain
Elevation of observation: 
3500-5000 ft
5000-6500 ft
Above 6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation: 
N
NE
E
SE
Red Flags: 
Avalanches from the past 2 days
Persistent Weak Layers: 
Surface Hoar
Facets or Faceted Crust
On the surface
New Snow in the past 24 hours: 
0.00in.
More comments about the snowpack and weather: 
Mild temps. Clear in A.M., scattered cumulus in PM. On southerly aspects, 2-3" of wet or slushy grains but the previous melt-freeze crust stayed in tact.
Blowing Snow: 
None
Wind Speed: 
Moderate (Small trees sway)
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Sky Cover: 
Increasing clouds
Highest Precipitation Rate: 
No Precipitation (NO)
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Saturday, March 21, 2020 - 14:30
Number of avalanches: 
2
Avalanche Type: 
Wet Loose
Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
skier
Trigger Modifier: 
Accidentally Triggered
Hide Terrain
Aspect: 
East
Starting Elevation: 
near-treeline
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D1 Relatively harmless to people.
Relative Size: 
R1 Very Small
Avalanche Length (Vertical Run): 
40ft.
Hide People Involved
Number of people caught: 
0
Avalanche Location: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Saturday, March 21, 2020 - 13:30
Number of avalanches: 
2
Avalanche Type: 
Loose Dry/ Sluff
Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
skier
Hide Terrain
Aspect: 
Northeast
Starting Elevation: 
above-treeline
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D1 Relatively harmless to people.
Relative Size: 
R1 Very Small
Avalanche Length (Vertical Run): 
400ft.
Avalanche Location: