Where'd the powder go?

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Flathead Range
Observation date: 
Thursday, April 1, 2021 - 06:30
Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
Yes
Observation made by: Forecaster

Tabs

Quick Observation

I enjoyed a day off ramble, soaking up the sun and looking for dry snow.

  • The distribution of dry snow is shrinking but still found in areas not hit by the sun, such as behind trees, large rock walls, and true north aspects. 
  • Despite warm temperatures and sunshine, wet loose activity was limited to rollerballs and small wet loose slides on steep sunny slopes which faced NW- SW-SE.
  • The recent wind has raked over large swaths of terrain exposed to the wind. Pleasant pockets of 4F soft slab were interspersed with large areas that were either scoured or hard slab. Cracking was confined to underfoot and no slabs were initiated. 

 

Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Travel Details
Region: 
Flathead Range - Middle Fork Corridor
Route Description: 
Activity: 
Skiing
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
S
Red Flags: 
Avalanches from the past 2 days
Blowing snow
Rollerballs / pinwheels
Persistent Weak Layers: 
Not observed
New Snow in the past 24 hours: 
0.00in.
More comments about the snowpack and weather: 
Dry snow became moist for the first time on a variety of slopes that had not been affected by the sun previously.
Blowing Snow: 
Light
Wind Speed: 
Light (Twigs in motion)
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Snow line: 
4000'
Sky Cover: 
Partly Cloudy (SCT)