2-3 inches of new snow on Tamarack Peak

Location Name: 
Tamarack Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 03/03/2013 - 12:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 50.0904" N, 119° 54' 51.8328" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

2-3 inches of new snow had fallen on Tamarack Peak as this 2 pm this afternoon. The winds accompanying this snowfall remained light and did not create wind slabs in traditionally wind loaded areas. On the exposed N-NE-E aspects the new snow rested above a firm crust and some small sluffing did occur in response to ski cuts on these slopes. In more sheltered areas today's new snow and last week's dusting of snow has buried the rain crust about 6 inches below the surface. This crust continues to erode, and a softer layer of snow does still exist under this crust. Tests in several areas indicated that fractures are unlikely to propagate along this layer of softer snow below the crust.

Photo 1: One of several ECTN's on N-NE facing slopes where the old crust has a layer of softer snow below it.

Photo 2: Skier triggered sluff on a steep N facing slope where wind loading typically occurs. Coordinates attached to this observation indicate the location of this sluff. Several other like it also occurred on steep near and above treeline N-NE aspects.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Light and variable winds along the ridgelines in the Tamarack Peak area today. No snow transport was occurring.