Observations from Round Top

Location Name: 
Round Top
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 04/04/2014 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 39' 49.716" N, 120° 0' 3.8628" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

A thin melt freeze crust was observed on all but the steepest N aspects above 9000ft. By mid afternoon the top 5 to 10cm of solar aspects had become wet and sticky.

Moderate SW winds transporting snow and a thin wind slab was observed up to 10cm thick on steep terrain features above Winnemuca Lake. Shears under this layer were quite clean, though no signs of propagation were observed by our departure at 3pm.

No lingering storm or wind instabilities were observed today, supported by ECTNs on a N aspect at 9200ft. At this same location, the NCF layer was 65cm down, which was consistent with probing elsewhere in the area. NCFs have gained density and were observed to be 1F hard, with a PST 70/100 (Arr) down 65cm where the collapse propagated only 10cm beyond the saw cut before arresting.

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

25% cloud cover in the morning increased to 50-75% in the afternoon with bursts of convective snow showers.