Snowpit from Elephant's Hump

Location Name: 
Elephant's Hump
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 11/06/2015 - 10:15
Location Map: 
United States
38° 41' 31.182" N, 119° 58' 18.3" W
US



Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Widespread surface hoar in this area on all aspects (photos). In open areas SH grain size was 10-15mm and as small as 3mm in less open areas. Near surface faceting at work with snowpack temp gradients observed on the order of 50 deg C per meter. No evidence of old basal snow layers from snowfall prior to Nov 1 was observed in this area up to the summit at 9,000'. Numerous hand pits on N-NE-E aspects in the area showed very similar to identical snowpack as recorded in the pit. Surface hoar may pose a future problem if it is able to survive warming air temps and wind damage prior to potential burial by the next snowfall event forecast for Nov 8.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Air temperature trend: 
Warming