MAIN RANGE NSW:
RECENT OBSERVATIONS
UPDATED: 17TH / JUNE /2018
REPORT CONFIDENCE: POOR
CURRENT UNTIL: 19 TH / JUNE / 2018
With this much snow falling over such a short period there is an avalanche problem associated with weak layers due to buddied surface hoar, most likely at mid elevations. On sheltered aspect which range from north east to south east. That said we are aware that the new snow is sitting on heavily featured bed surface (resistant planar) and the obs run so far don't match what we know is the prevailing accumulation pattern. The results are serious, but variation in a new snowpack is very hard to forecast. Hence, our confidence is low based on these factors.
OBSERVATION SUMMARY
TREND: IMPROVING / ONGOING / DETERIORATING
Did some digging on a East - South East aspect @ 1750m.
Snowpack depth 80cm.
Had easy results on hand shear tests from 1680 to 1800m.
The snow pack we observed has 25cm of new snow sitting on a 5mm layer of surface hoar. Buried surface hoar is also present at 45cm and 57cm. We were getting easy results on the bond above the surface hoar at 43cm.
Wind slab will be forming on all aspects lee to the SW
See results below
Buried surface hoar present @ 25cm, 43cm and 57cm.
Crystal size 2 - 4 mm.
CTE 3 RP @ 43 cm on Surface hoar
ECTN 5 @ 43cm on surface hoar
OUTLOOK
We will continue to monitor the buried surface hoar. With more snow forecast for 2 more day this top layer will become larger
Adam@MSC www.snowsafety.com.au
PRIMARY HAZARD
Outlook for next 48hrs
