Submitted by Public (not verified) on Thu, 12/31/2020 - 21:21
Location Name: 
West Willow
Region: 
Silver Valley Area
Location Map: 
United States
47° 26' 13.0308" N, 115° 48' 51.1236" W
See map: Google Maps
US
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 12/31/2020 - 15:00
Observation made by: 
Public
Red Flags: 
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Joined the Idaho Panhandled Avalanche staff for a tour up West Willow. 20cm of new snow in the upper elevations. Winds were moderate in the alpine. Isolated cracking was obvserved along steep wind loaded test slope features above 5000'. No propagation in two pit locations (5845' and 6200' ESE aspect), but faceting associated with a melt-freeze crust ~35cm below the surface was the most concerning layer in both locations. 

 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Any other comments about the observation or links to outside pages that have more info on the observation: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Temps increased by the afternoon with light snow turning to rain below 4000'.