Un-Reactive Buried Surface Hoar on Elephant's Hump

Location Name: 
Elephant's Hump
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 01/12/2016 - 16:45
Location Map: 
United States
38° 41' 30.48" N, 119° 58' 12" W
See map: Google Maps
US



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

Several test pits in the Elephant's Hump area this afternoon showed the Jan 5th surface hoar layer buried about 30cm down on the N-NE aspects in near and below treeline terrain. Snowpit tests targeting this layer indicated that this layer was inactive today. I got consistent ECTN results and PST 85-90/100 END results on this layer. The surface hoar layer was still visible in the pit profiles on some slopes and not on others. I did not see evidence of the Jan 5th surface hoar layer in snowpit data from SE aspects around 8000 ft. On the surface the snow remains loose, unconsolidated and weak on the northerly aspects and had a thin fragile sun crust on top of weak snow on the S-SE aspects. The newer Jan. 9th surface hoar layer was difficult to locate in this area and did not seem as widespread as it has been in other parts of the forecast area.  

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
More detailed information about the weather: 

Some light snow transport was starting by 4 pm along the ridges of Elephant's Hump.