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Professional Observation

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 20, 2022
Submitted:
January 21, 2022
Observer:
TAC - Andy
Zone or Region:
Taos Area
Location:
Williams Lake Area

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
Very small loose snow avalanches "sluffs" in steep terrain

Media

A couple of inches of low-density new snow fell on a variety of different surfaces from firm crusts to near-surface facets. Small loose snow avalanches started as point releases in steep terrain fanning out. With more snow in the forecast, these old snow interfaces will become more important in the coming days.
Shallow snowpack on a northerly aspect above treeline. Its places where you find shallow snowpacks like this that you're more likely to impact faceted layers near the ground
East aspect near treeline with facets forming just below a small crust
West aspect with a more robust melt-freeze crust, with a couple of inches of low-density snow on top

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
10 - 20
Wind:
Calm , W

Skies cleared in the morning hours, bringing sun and calm winds. Did not observe any low-density snow drifting.

Snowpack Observations

A couple inches of low density fell overnight, that was fell on a variety of different surfaces from melt-freeze crusts to firm wind crusts at upper elevations. Wind-sheltered northerly aspects have been decomposing in the top 20 to 30 cm making for good skiing, but this cohesionless snow was easy to push in step terrain.

With more snow in the forecast tomorrow evening, new snow may not be bonding well to the existing surface, creating a good bed surface once a cohesive slab is introduced.

Starting to observe facets just below crusts on the surface as well as in the mid-pack around denser slabs. These are not a concern right now but could be in the future.

Facets on the ground can still be found in shallow snowpacks (less than 3') on northerly aspects. In one pit these layers failed with hard force in an extended column test. It's slopes that harbor these shallow snowpacks that you may be able to impact deeper weak layers near the ground.

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