Observations from Red Vista/Elephant's Hump

Location Name: 
Red Vista/Elephant's Hump
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 03/08/2015 - 10:30
Location Map: 
United States
38° 41' 21.372" N, 119° 58' 32.268" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Snow cover in this area differs dramatically on SE-S-SW aspects vs NW-N-NE aspects, just as it does in all other portions of the forecast area. Snow on most SE-S-SW aspects has melted back to pre-storm coverage with large areas of bare ground. Snow on E aspects remains transitional with marginally supportable melt-freeze (when frozen) over recent storm snow over rain crust (video). Recent storm snow on NW-N-NE aspects is forming near surface facets in most areas. Thin surface melt-freeze crust has formed on all but the most heavily shaded N aspects (photo). In these heavily shaded areas, pockets of unconsolidated near surface facets and recent storm snow linger, unaffected by melt-freeze. No evidence of instability was observed in this area today.

Photo: Thin, breakable melt-freeze surface crust over near surface facets on N aspect at 8,450'.

Video: Overview of area snow cover and transitional snow on E aspects (at noted lat/long).

Snowpack photos: 
Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

20150308 Transitional snow on Red Vista, CA

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
East
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: