Observations from Kinney Lakes

Location Name: 
Kinney Lakes
Region: 
Ebbetts Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 01/17/2017 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 33' 6.444" N, 119° 49' 31.4112" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Rapid warming
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Above freezing temps observed today, with minor loose wet instabilities and a few small glide cracks opening up. On shady slopes and slopes indirect to sun, NSF and SH observed at the surface similar to elsewhere within the forecast area. Sunny slopes getting wet at surface, and trees were shedding last week's storm snow.

Pic 1: Mid morning very small loose wet instability. Temps were above freezing on sunny slopes early in the day. Slightly larger though still inconsequential loose wet instabilities observed later in the day. Though visibility was limited, later while running errands in the Carson Valley, I think I saw a ~D2 loose wet in a large terrain feature below "Porcupine Ridge" beyond Heavenly's boundary.

Pic 2:  Cuts of wind loaded test slopes, including cutting progressively higher on slopes, failed to produce signs of instability.

Pic 3:  Ridgetops previously exposed to winds were scoured down to a firm rain crust and/or thin snow on top of rain crust. This surface made for unsafe travel, and after one close-call, we avoided ridgetop terrain for the rest of the day.

Pic 4: One of several very small glide cracks observed opening up. In general, larger terrain features in this area are rough volcanic rock, and smooth granite tends to be limited to smaller features.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
More detailed information about the weather: 

AM clouds 25% and PM couds 75% accentuating warming.