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Keeps snowing here at Hokaido
Location Name:
Forecaster Observation - Southern Whitefish Range
Observation date:
Tuesday, January 14, 2020 - 17:45
Is this an Avalanche Observation:
Yes
Observation made by:
Forecaster
Location
Tabs
Quick Observation
Quick day off tour from WMR.
Another 10" - 15" of very very low-density snow since yesterday's observation (I'm guessing 2% density).
The new snow sluffed and cracked as mini slabs very easily on just about everything, but it only seemed to entrain the top few inches of snow. The sluffs were harmless.
The only other sign of instability we saw today was a fresh soft slab in Skook Chutes, about a foot deep, but didn't run very far, D1 in size.
Calm to light winds, moderate snowfall all day, a few pulses of S5.
Ski pen is now waist deep. Plenty of loose, cohesionless snow for transport if winds ever pick up. Let's hope not.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images:
Travel Details
Region:
Whitefish Range - Southern (south of Coal Creek)
Route Description:
6600' down to 4500'
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details:
Terrain
Elevation of observation:
3500-5000 ft
5000-6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation:
NE
S
SW
Red Flags:
More than a foot of new snow or heavy snowfall rates (>1"/hr)
Persistent Weak Layers:
Not observed
New Snow in the past 24 hours:
15.00in.
Blowing Snow:
None
Wind Speed:
Calm (No air motion)
Air temperature:
Below Freezing
Snow line:
0
Sky Cover:
Overcast (OVC)
Highest Precipitation Rate:
Heavy Snowfall (S5)
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details:
Date and Time of Avalanche:
Tuesday, January 14, 2020 - 07:00
Number of avalanches:
1
Avalanche Type:
Soft Slab
Failure Plane/Weak Layer:
Within storm snow
Trigger
Trigger:
natural
Terrain
Aspect:
Southwest
Starting Elevation:
near-treeline
Size
Destructive Size:
D1 Relatively harmless to people.
Relative Size:
R1 Very Small
Crown Height:
1 ft
Avalanche Width (Average width):
15ft.
Avalanche Location:
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