Forecaster Observation - Kona-Top of World, Whitefish Range

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Kona-Top of World, Whitefish Range
Region: 
Whitefish Range - Southern (south of Coal Creek)
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 02/16/2017 - 14:30
Location Map: 


Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Toured for the afternoon along the ridgeline (local names: Ghoulie, Kona, Top of the World) east of Whitefish Mountain Resort. Last week's rain crust was getting soft (1F hardness) with about 1 inch of wet snow sitting on top. Still the snowpack surface was supportable on skis and travel was quite fast. No wind-loading given the saturated snow surface. Ski cuts on small test slopes yielded no results, no shooting cracks or little slabs popping out.

Dug two snowpits. First was on a NNE aspect at 6300 feet. Snow depth was 290 cm. The Jan 18th crust was 100 cm from the surface and no fractures occured on this layer with compression and extended columns tests. ECTN20 @ 255 cm (within last week's storm slab), CT 15 on same layer. Second pit was on a SE aspect at 6400 feet. Snow depth was 255 cm and the Jan 19th crust was 90 cm below the surface. Again no fractures on this layer. ECTN23 @ 225 (within last week's storm slab). In both locations a 1-2 cm thick layer of facets was present above and below the crust.

Did not observed any recent avalanche activity, but visibility was very limited. Some large chunks of snow tossed out of the snowpit onto steep slopes did not initiate any wet loose avalanches. The soggy crust still seemed to be holding down the snowpack surface.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light (Twigs in motion)
Precipitation: 
Mixed rain and snow
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

A soggy day with some world-class fog. Visibility was limited to 50 yards or less for most of the afternoon. Calm or sometimes light winds from the south-southwest. Very light rain/snow mix occurring off and on. Temperatures in the 32-34 deg. F range.

Activity: 
Skiing
Precip Rate: 
RV; very light rain, rain would not cover a surface regardless of duration
High Temp. (C): 
1
Low Temp. (C): 
0