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Observation: Tushers

Observation Date
3/31/2017
Observer Name
Toddeo
Region
Southwest » Tushers
Location Name or Route
Tushers - Eagle Point Periphery
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Wind might have had a bit of an east element at times, always concerning. Some sunny breaks, enough to dampen snow surface a bit and some greenhousing, mostly below 9,500'
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

HST = 4" of dense snow sitting on a semi supportable to breakable crust. Some damp snow after noon below 9,500'.

Big Flat Snotel showed 5" at 10,500'.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Wind loading. albeit minor would be my red flag of the day. Some transport but only minor drifting. Could be more in the alpine, I was below tree line.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Minor wind slabs.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

Minor today but may increase with warmer weather over the weekend.

Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
9,500'
Slope Angle
30°
Comments

Upper snow pack is a snow/crust sandwich from the last three storms. Two crusts at the top of the 1st 2 of 3 storms sitting on top of the march high pressure surface. The mid and low pack is mostly isothermal from the march high pressure which was responsible for a big melt/loss of snow. The low and mid pack is pretty well locked up until another major warm-up.

Mostly a low danger below treeline today, this might increase with warmer weather as forecasted this weekend. I would speculate a moderate hazard in the alpine which was mostly obscured today.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate