Refrozen Rain Crusts and Wet Snow on Yuba Pass

Location Name: 
South of Lincoln Ridge
Region: 
Yuba Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 02/15/2014 - 13:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 34' 26.2992" N, 120° 29' 33.0396" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

A thick rain crust that supported snowmobile travel existed on all aspects in most places around the Yuba Pass area today. Stepping off of the snowmobiles would sometimes result in sinking deeper into wet snow (30-40cm foot penetration) and sometimes the crust would be strong enough to support a person on foot. This crust varied in thickness from 15-30 cm at the thickest and 10-15 cm in thinner areas. Below the crust a mix of wet snow and old consolidated melt/freeze snow exists. Snowpit data and general observations did not reveal any signs of instability. The ECT in the video did not produce any fractures. Brandon pried the column away to show the still wet but consolidating layer below the thick, strong, refrozen rain crust. Snowpack depths on northerly aspects above 7300 ft. ranged from 60 to 150 cm.

Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

20140215 133013

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

Some light snow showeres began to occur at Yuba Pass at 3 pm.