Still Schmoo Today

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Southern Whitefish Range
Observation date: 
Thursday, March 3, 2022 - 15:15
Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
Yes
Observation made by: Forecaster

Tabs

Quick Observation

Once again into the schmoo - that's mushy wet snow.

  • WMR ski patrol reported large wet loose avalanches as a result of explosives used during morning mitigation work. We easily triggered little wet loose and rollers. (See avalanche tab)
  • The top 4 inches of the snowpack were moist to wet (~1 inch of SWE at Big Mtn Summit weather station, past 24hrs). Storm snow form this week was moist down to the mid-February crust. Dry below that. (See snow pit photo)
  • Snow line fell to around 5500 feet this morning. Moderate snowfall above that, moderate rain below.
  • When we got back to the base we looked like we'd just gotten out of the shower in our goretex.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Travel Details
Region: 
Whitefish Range - Southern (south of Coal Creek)
Route Description: 
Activity: 
Skiing
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details: 
Hide Terrain
Elevation of observation: 
5000-6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation: 
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Red Flags: 
Avalanches from the past 2 days
Rain on snow
Rapid or prolonged warming
Rollerballs / pinwheels
Persistent Weak Layers: 
Facets or Faceted Crust
Buried
New Snow in the past 24 hours: 
7.00in.
Total Snow Depth: 
300cm
Wind Speed: 
Calm (No air motion)
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Snow line: 
5500 ft
Sky Cover: 
Obscured by fog, etc (X)
Highest Precipitation Rate: 
Moderate Snowfall (S2)
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Thursday, March 3, 2022 - 08:00
Number of avalanches: 
1
Avalanche Type: 
Wet Loose
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
Within storm snow
More information or comments about the avalanche: 

Reported by WMR ski patrol during mitigation work in the morning.

Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
Explosive
Trigger Modifier: 
Intentionally Triggered
Hide Terrain
Aspect: 
Southeast
Starting Elevation: 
near-treeline
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.
Relative Size: 
R3 Medium
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Thursday, March 3, 2022 - 11:15
Number of avalanches: 
1
Avalanche Type: 
Wet Loose
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
Within storm snow
More information or comments about the avalanche: 
Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
skier
Trigger Modifier: 
Intentionally Triggered
Hide Terrain
Aspect: 
East
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 Length (Vertical Run): 
75ft.
Avalanche Width (Average width): 
25ft.
Avalanche Location: