Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Weak Layer

Weak Layer Information

Layer Burial Date:
November 27, 2022
Layer Grain Type (Primary):
FC - Faceted Crystals
Layer Grain Type (Secondary):
SH -Surface Hoar
Comments:

This weak layer is composed primarily of the snow that developed during the mid-November drought. In our northern areas this began to be buried by minor storms on 11/22. In our southern areas it was at the surface until 11/27. A good bit of surface hoar has been observed at this interface, but the thick stack of facets seem to be the much more widespread problem. The layer varies primarily by aspect (FC on shaded slopes, FC+MFcr on solars) and secondarily by aspect (inversions faceted much of the low elevation snowpack and left some SH bathtub rings.

Media

Very weak snow formed at the surface during the November dry spell. This is now buried ~10
Very weak snow formed at the surface during the November dry spell. This is now buried ~10

Weak Layer Observations

Professional Field Reports:
Jan 24, 2023 - Johnstone
Jan 7, 2023 - Baker Creek to Bear Peak
Jan 4, 2023 - Langer Pk
Dec 30, 2022 - Baker Creek Drainage
Dec 29, 2022 - Horton
Dec 28, 2022 - Galena Pass Roadside tour
Dec 27, 2022 - Titus Ridge
Dec 23, 2022 - Johnstone Creek
Dec 22, 2022 - Fourth of July Drainage
Dec 22, 2022 - Bench Lakes
Dec 21, 2022 - Adam's Gulch/ Warm Springs Divide
Dec 20, 2022 - Copper (rec)
Dec 19, 2022 - Warm Springs Ck - adjacent to ski area
Dec 18, 2022 - Beaver Creek
Dec 17, 2022 - East Fork Big Wood
Dec 17, 2022 - Croy Canyon
Dec 13, 2022 - Durrance
Dec 14, 2022 - Headwaters, SW of Saviers
Dec 13, 2022 - Hailey - East Fork/Greenhorn: driving observations
Dec 12, 2022 - Langer
Dec 11, 2022 - Divide between Frenchmans & Salmon Headwaters (rec tour)
Dec 7, 2022 - E. Fork Baker Ck - Fox Pk
Dec 8, 2022 - Fourth of July Drainage
Dec 7, 2022 - East Fork Big Wood
Dec 6, 2022 - Galena Pass: Camp Ck, Avalanche Pk
Dec 5, 2022 - Wells Summit - Soldier Mtns
Dec 5, 2022 - Cape Horn
Dec 4, 2022 - Kelly Mountain
Dec 3, 2022 - Baker Creek
Dec 2, 2022 - Durrance
Dec 2, 2022 - Mid Valley roadside tour and Baldy Inbounds
Dec 1, 2022 - Butterfield
Dec 1, 2022 - Cross (rec tour)
Nov 30, 2022 - Warm Springs Creek Drainage
Nov 29, 2022 - Arrange Peak
Nov 28, 2022 - Copper Mtn
Avalanche Occurrences:
Dec 27, 2022 - Hyndman Creek - Little Basin
Jan 1, 2023 - Hyndman Creek - "Peanut"
Dec 30, 2022 - Baker Ck - above Baker Lake
Dec 26, 2022 - 4th of July Peak
Dec 21, 2022 - Owl Ck - south of Bromaghin Peak
Dec 2, 2022 - Newman Cr at the bottom of Copper Mtn
Dec 2, 2022 - Thatcher Creek S of Copper Mtn
Dec 12, 2022 - Warm Springs Ck - Baldy out-of-bounds/sidecountry
Dec 13, 2022 - Gold Creek Hill
Dec 12, 2022 - Greenhorn Gulch
Dec 12, 2022 - Boulder Foothills
Dec 11, 2022 - Big Wood River near hospital - KOA Chutes
Dec 11, 2022 - Across from the Stanley RS
Dec 5, 2022 - Fourth of July
Dec 5, 2022 - Champion Basin
Dec 1, 2022 - Fourth of July
Dec 1, 2022 - Fourth of July
Dec 1, 2022 - Fourth of July
Dec 1, 2022 - Fourth of July
Dec 1, 2022 - Titus Lake Chutes
Dec 1, 2022 - McDonald Peak
Dec 5, 2022 - Alturas Drainage - map location approximate
Dec 5, 2022 - Cape Horn
Dec 2, 2022 - Cape Horn
Dec 1, 2022 - Timber Bowl
Dec 2, 2022 - Between Cabin and Senate Peaks
Dec 1, 2022 - Norton Creek - Baker Creek Drainage
Dec 1, 2022 - Baker Creek drainage
Dec 1, 2022 - Brodie Gulch - Baker Creek Drainage
Dec 1, 2022 - Apollo Creek - Baker Creek Drainage
Dec 1, 2022 - Warm Springs Ck
Dec 1, 2022 - Above Hwy 75 between Titus Lake TH and top of Galena Summit
Nov 28, 2022 - Eureka Peak
Nov 28, 2022 - Alturas Lake Creek Drainage