Blowing snow on Carpenter Ridge.

Location Name: 
Carpenter Ridge
Region: 
Independence Lake Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 02/05/2017 - 12:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 24' 44.5176" N, 120° 18' 46.3428" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Strong to gale force SW winds on Carpenter Ridge at mid day were transporting significant amounts of snow. A distinct wind slab in the top 45 cm (1.5 ft) of the snowpack was difficult to trigger. A test pit at the noted lat/long (NNE aspect, 28 degree slope, near treeline, wind loaded) produced ECTN results. The slab was 1F hard snow on top of 4F hard recent storm snow. Ski kicks an ski cuts on a number of wind loaded features along the ridge did not reveal any signs of instability even though wind slabs were clearly present.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: