Wet snow on all aspects on Becker Peak

Location Name: 
Becker Peak
Region: 
Echo Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 02/24/2012 - 13:30
Location Map: 
United States
38° 49' 54.426" N, 120° 3' 26.1468" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

On the northerly aspects, wet heavy surface snow existed up to at least 8200 ft. Some small roller balls and 6 inch diameter pinwheels occurred as a result of ski cuts on these aspects. Below the wet snow softer drier snow existed with the crust/facet combination residing at the base of this softer snow. One isolated ECT test showed that fractures could still propagate through this layer; however, other ECT tests showed that propagation remains unlikely. Ski cuts on steep NE-N facing test slopes showed no signs of instability other than those small pinwheels mentioned above.

On sun-exposed southerly aspects, two to three inches of wet surface snow existed on top of a supportable melt freeze crust by 2 pm. Similar to the northerly aspects ski cuts did trigger a few small roller balls and pinwheels. No other significant signs of wet snow instabilities were observed.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: