Variable conditions on Talking Mountain

Location Name: 
Talking Mountain
Region: 
Echo Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 04/09/2011 - 14:30
Location Map: 
United States
38° 49' 58.6992" N, 120° 4' 12.2196" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

10-12 inches of light storm snow rests on top of a 4-6 inch thick frozen melt-freeze crust on the northerly aspects above 7200 ft in this area. Stability tests and ski cuts on steep test slopes showed good bonding between the new snow and the old melt-freeze crust on these aspects. Some small loose snow sluffs did occur on north facing test slopes steeper than 38 degrees. These sluffs only involved the top 2-3 inches of the new snow. Some evidence of east wind scouring existed on the N-NE-E aspects near and above treeline.

On the southerly aspects 3-6 inches of storm snow existed on top of a much thicker melt-freeze crust. A thin, breakable sun crust had formed on the snow surface on these aspects up to 8700 ft. The snow below this sun crust remained cold. No roller balls or signs of wet snow instability occurred on the steep south facing test slopes between 7800 ft and 8700 ft. before 3 pm.

Photo 1: Test pit on a south facing, sun-exposed slope at 8600 ft.

Photo 2: Test pit on a north facing slope at 8700 ft.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: