Observations from Cathedral Bowl

Location Name: 
Tallac
Region: 
Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay)
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 02/09/2012 - 13:45
Location Map: 
United States
38° 53' 30.8436" N, 120° 5' 28.788" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Rapid warming
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

pit: facets under crust were clearly rounding, and mitt pits elsewhere showed rounding at this layer.

pic 1: indirect solar aspects and shaded aspects at and above treeline remained cold and dry

pic 2: E aspect adjacent to pit (pit had NE aspect) - warm temps and solar input forming a thin crust in the newer snow, just centimeters above previous rain crust. Solar aspects above treeline and all aspects below treeline were observed in melt phase during afternoon.

pic 3: solar aspects on distant peaks reflecting light consistent with melt phase - no wind scouring of recent snow observed on Tallac (previous rain crust not observed at surface).

 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: