Observations from Forestdale and Frog Lake Ridge

Location Name: 
Forestdale
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 12/22/2016 - 00:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 40' 8.7312" N, 119° 58' 0.6348" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

A thin wind and melt/freeze crust was supportable to snowmobile skis around Forestdale, and again to skis around Frog Lake and Elephant's Back. Clean and easy hand shears on facets just under this surface crust. Snow on top of Dec 15th rain crust observed to be both settling and faceting, with weak snow above the rain crust and near the surface, with strengthening rounds in between. No cracking observed today, either via snowmobile or skis.

Profile from Forestdale Divide. Almost identical profile with similar test results observed later in the day near Elephant's Back at 38.685112, -119.983040. Facets below Dec 15th rain crust growing large and greater than 2.0mm, but perc tubes observed just under this crust.

Photo from Forestdale looking W to large cornices that appear ready to fall. The slopes below showed debris similar to observed elsewhere, likely cornice fall triggered wind slab shortly after Dec 15th transitioned from rain to snow.

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

Temps on sunny slopes above freezing.