Snowpit on South slopes above Lilly Lake

Location Name: 
South slopes above Lilly Lake
Region: 
Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay)
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 12:11
Location Map: 
United States
38° 52' 59.0988" N, 120° 5' 59.1" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Rapid warming
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Skier supportable melt freeze conditions existed with slope stability still good at noon. Pit data indicated likely developing instability during the next few hours. Stability test fracture failures immediately bonded to column and had to be forced off to examine failure plane.

Photo: Pit after ECTP result on layer density change 17cm deep. Wet forms in melt phase limited to the top 5cm. Failure layer was wet forms but not in high melt phase/minimal free water.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Afternoon cloud cover not materializing as forecast allowing for significant longwave solar radiation input.