Weather and Snow Pack

Samuel Trop
 Notes:
Storm Snow Avalanches: Snow storm avalanches are the most
common types of Avalanches. These avalanches happen after
significant snowfall. There are many ways to get avalanches from
Storm snow and it mostly depends on the pre existing snowpack.
Persistent weak layers: The three most notorious, persistent weak layer
include: faceted snow, depth hoar and surface hoar. As you can
imagine, persistent weak layers cause most avalanche accidents
because the avalanche danger can linger several days after a storm,
just waiting for a trigger. The presence of a weak layer alone doesnt
mean danger, but its something you should check on your snow
strength test.
Courtesy of Utah Avalanche Center, Dec 5th, 2017 Observer, Tyler Falk
Good Example of storm snow on top of a weak faceted layer
 Facets- Facets, or squares as they are sometimes referred to, are associated with most
the avalanche fatalities. They have sharp angles and form from large temperature gradients
within the snowpack. Warm days with cold nights promote growth due to the temperature
fluctuations. Typically smaller in size than depth hoar, usually around 1-2mm.
Crystal Grain (Surface Hoar)- Frost. Crystal grain is like the solid form of dew. It develops on the
surface of the snowpack during clear calm nights. To grow a sufficient supply of water vapor
must be available in the air, and a high temperature gradient (inversion) must be present above
a snow surface that is chilled below the ice point.(the dew-point temperature of sub-freezing air)
2 Once it gets buried it can produce avalanches for a long period and pull out on very low slope
angles. These grains can grow very large; Often, this cold, humid air pools up into the bottoms of
mountain valleys and basins, exactly where we find surface hoar.
surface hoar forms in the following conditions:
Clear sky
No direct sunshine, or very weak sun
Calm or light winds (about 3 mph is best)
Open slope exposed to a clear sky (trees or clouds can radiate their own heat and disrupt the
process)
Humid air
Surface Hoar Depth Hoar(Sugar Snow) Graupel
 Depth Hoar- These grains develop on the bottom of the snowpack. When the
pack is shallow, the relatively warm ground and cold snow surface produce a
high temperature gradient which promotes growth of depth hoar. They are cup
shaped and typically not as prevalent as the first two persistent weak layers in
accidents but do cause very deep unmanageable avalanches when they
release. This grain type is large, typically at least 4mm.
Graupel- Styrofoam ball type of snow that stings your face when it falls from the
sky. It forms from strong convective activity within a storm (upward vertical
motion) caused by the passage of a cold front or springtime convective
showers. The static buildup from all these falling graupel pellets sometimes cause
lightning as well. It looks and behaves like a pile of ball bearings. Graupel is a
common weak layer in maritime climates but more rare in continental climates.
Its extra tricky because it tends to roll off cliffs and steeper terrain and collect on
the gentler terrain at the bottom of cliffs. Climbers and extreme riders sometimes
trigger graupel avalanches after they have descended steep terrain (45-60
degrees) and have finally arrived on the gentler slopes below (35-45 degrees)
just when they are starting to relax. Graupel weak layers usually stabilize in about
a day or two after a storm, depending on temperature.
Wind Loading/Cross loading
 Wind loading is a common factor when triggering avalanches. Wind
carries snow from a downwind obstacle like a ridge and carries it
and drops it on the other side of the ridge. This is dangerous
because wind can deposit snow 10 times more rapidly than
snowstorms.
Wind Loading can form slabs on top of existing storm snow or weak
layers resulting in easy propagation and fracturing.
Wind is one of the most important weather aspect in avalanched
accidents.
 Learning Resources
Avalanche Level One Course-
http://www.americanavalancheinstitute.com/
Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain Written by Bruce Tremper, Former
Director of Utah Avalanche Center. (Book can be found online for
around $15)
Utah Avalanche Center- utahavalanchecenter.org
National Avalanche Center- avalanche.org