Breakable crusts and corn snow on the Fireplug

Location Name: 
Fireplug
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 14:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 19' 31.6812" N, 119° 54' 24.0228" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

On the northerly aspects in this area, a firm breakable crust existed on the snow surface. Underneath this crust softer snow existed. Snowpit data on a north aspect at about 9000 ft. showed a mostly stable snowpack below the surface. The only weaknesses noted in the snowpack existed just below the crust. No slabs existed on top of this weak layer.

Photo 1: Breakable crust and the softer snow below it on a N aspect at 9000 ft.

On the sun exposed SE-S-SW aspects, the top two to three inches of snow softened today. By 2:30 this softer snow had already started to refreeze in some areas. A firm melt-freeze crust existed below the soft corn snow.

Photo 2: Soft surface snow on a S aspect at 9000 ft.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Cloud cover started to increase in the afternoon with thin high clouds becoming more widespead and thicker over the Sierra Crest.