Corn Snow in Third Creek

Location Name: 
Third Creek
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 03/02/2016 - 13:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 17' 30.2316" N, 119° 57' 31.7376" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

3-4 inches of corn snow existed above a supportable melt freeze crust on SE-S-SW aspects above 8000 ft. as late as 2 pm. Below 8000 ft. the snowpack became unsupportable and wet snow deeper than boot-top depth existed on E-SE-S-SW aspects as of noon. Another skier reported some small loose wet roller balls on steep lower elevation slopes by 11 am. On north aspects below 8800 ft. a thin layer of wet snow also existed on E-NE-N aspects with drier snow below it. Above 8800 ft. the north aspects held a mix of breakable crusts and cold dry snow. No signs of instability were observed on the northerly aspects.

Photo 1: Some recent loose wet snow avalanches in a gully. This area represents a terrain trap where small loose wet avalanches could have larger consequences.

Photo 2: Wet snow deeper than my boot tops on a S aspect at 7600 ft. at 12:15 pm.

Photo 3: 2-3 inches of corn snow on top of a supportable melt freeze crust at 9000 ft. on a SE aspect at 2 pm. 

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest