Crusts, Wet Snow, and Variable Conditions on Angora

Location Name: 
Angora
Region: 
Echo Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 02/25/2016 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 52' 5.322" N, 120° 4' 52.7412" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Obvious avalanche path
Terrain Trap
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

A mix of snow surface conditions ranging from firm icy melt freeze crusts to wet snow to firm wind packed and wind scoured surfaces to patches of cold soft snow existed on Angora Peak. The sun exposed E and SE aspects were the first to soften and the first slopes where some human triggered pinwheels started to occur. Most of the loose wet instabilities remained small but a few of the pinwheels measured up to 1 m in diameter. W aspects remained firm and frozen for much of the morning and did not start to soften until after noon. The NW-N-NE aspects consisted of mostly wind affected snow and held a few patches of softer snow in sheltered shaded spots. Snowpit tests on the northerly aspects did not reveal any signs of instability (ECTN's). 

Photos:  Small roller balls off of a ski cut on a test slope.  East aspect @11:30am.

 

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
More detailed information about the weather: 

Warm and calm conditions throughout the day.