Hoar layer developing in the N Cascades.

Besides the obvious surface hoar, there is a deeper hoar layer developing in the N Cascades.<br><br>Due to the recent cold weather, we are seeing a hoar layer developing under the December crust. The crust is stong enough to hold up the covering snowpack at this time, but with further snowfalls, there will be growing danger of collapse of this unsupported crust. The crust is mostly developed in areas of lesser snowpack and therefore greater temperature gradient, such as ridge tops that get depleted by wind drift. <br><br>We observed this crust in the Mt Baker ski area backcountry at about 5500' on a NNW aspect. The Baker ski patrol has seen it in other locales and is quite concerned. It may or may not exist in other regions. Probe and pit diligently.<br>

Thank you Tim for the words of caution. This can definitely become a problem over time. When I was BC skiing over Christmas in Santa Fe, NM, we had to cancel our BC plans due to just such a layer.

Snowpack is scary scary. I'm cheering for a pineapple express. Who wants to throw a luau and burn some umbrellas for the rain gods?

Good point, Tim.<br>Same conditions exist in the south end around Rainier.

I'll second the vote for the pineapple express. I noticed this today around paradise

I'm with Sky, too.<br>Bring on the PE.<br>The Rockies are getting all our snow and all we're getting is their persistent weak layers &gt;