Observations from Rubicon Peak

Location Name: 
Rubicon Peak
Region: 
West Shore Area
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 02/15/2017 - 11:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 59' 26.6064" N, 120° 8' 10.7412" W
See map: Google Maps
US



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

Cloud cover was much thicker that forecast this morning which drastically affected the amount of snow surface melt on solar aspects. Below the summit, E aspect snow at about 9,000' was not previously affected by melt-freeze.

N aspect terrain held unconsolidated surface snow with very minor amounts of near surface faceting. This N aspect snow between 6,800' and 7,800' was observed to enter into its first melt cycle during the late morning hours. A testpit dug at the noted lat/long (N aspect, 8,700') showed no signs of instability with excellent bonding of the recent storm snow to the rain crust below. Melt forms below the rain crust were still wet and not fully refrozen (previously rain soaked snow). The existing snowpack appears to be in good condition to handle new snow loading.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest