Wind loading at Virginia Lakes

SNOWPACK OBSERVATION Red Lake Bowl Virginia Creek
Submission Info Volunteer Observer Monday, January 4, 2021 - 4:00pm

Contributor

Barbara Wanner

Red Flags:

Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain

Red Lake Bowl Virginia Creek 38° 2' 41.7192" N, 119° 15' 57.3444" W

See map: Google Maps

Snowpit Observations

More detailed information about the snowpack:

As the storm moves into our area, there seems to be more wind than new snow accumulation. A 10 cm newly formed 4F wind slab was cracking under my skis but not propagating. In my hand shear test the 10 cm new wind slab popped off while I was still cutting with my pole. I stomped on some small cornices that had formed today and was able to get them to break off with two steps. Heavy blocks about 45 cm thick broke off. This corespoded with my ECTP25 SC 45 cm down on the wind loaded slope below the cornices. I also found 25 cm of well developed facets F soft at the bottom of the snow pack below the wind loaded slope.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph:

Weather Observations

Blowing Snow:

Yes

Cloud Cover:

100% of the sky covered by clouds

Air temperature:

Below Freezing

Wind Speed:

Strong

Precipitation:

Snow

Air temperature trend:

Cooling

Wind Direction:

Southwest

Accumulation rate:

Less than 1 in. per hour

More detailed information about the weather:

At 1600 today in Red Lake Bowl: Strong winds from the SW. Gusts came from many different directions as the terrain was channelling the wind around the bowl. Snow fell at a rate of S-1. Some small graupel visible on the ground. Snow transport was widespread ranging from rolling along the snow surface to saltation and turbulent suspention. Near treeline even small ridges and rollovers were accumulating wind transported snow on all aspects. Most of the snow that was moved around seemed to be snow from before the storm as the precip was still light. At ridgetop elevation I was able to see the wind blowing the snow in big snow banners off high ridges and transporting it down far into the gullies. Snowfall rate intensified as I was leaving at 1730.