Still split
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
By Lisa Van Sciver
Jackson Hole, Wyo.-This winter season’s low pressure systems splits around Western Wyoming, we are left with dry skies and a shallow snowpack. Snow is similar to a human, the longer it sits around, the weaker it becomes.
Unfortunately, this year our snowpack has done a lot of sitting around. Above 8,000 feet exists a typical continental snowpack, which consists of consolidated snow from recent storms balanced on well-developed depth hoar.
Our last signification snowfall ended on Jan. 6, when 30 inches of snow with three inches of water covered the Tetons. The storm ended with winds gusting to 70 miles per hour. The rapid loading caused a significant avalanche cycle and hundreds of avalanches were recorded on all aspects above 7,500 feet.
Since then, snow levels in Rendezvous Bowl settled eight inches. Temperatures at upper and mid elevations rose above freezing and the sun created a crust on south aspects.
On steep slopes at mid- and upper-elevation, where avalanches have not occurred, it is possible for a skier to trigger one. On northerly aspect, where the largest depth hoar can be found, the potential to cause an avalanche is even higher. So as the clear skies persist and the snow’s surface changes from soft to crust, be careful not to get sucked toward the soft snow and the greatest hazard.
PERMALINK:
Still split | Planet JH News Article: Snow Report Column
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