Observations from Waterhouse Peak

Location Name: 
Waterhouse Peak
Region: 
Luther Pass Area (including Job and Freel)
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 03/10/2014 - 11:45
Location Map: 
United States
38° 46' 35.7708" N, 119° 58' 0.318" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

New snow amounts in this area ranged from 1.5 inches at 7,500' to 3 inches at 9,400'. Along the summit ridge, N aspect test slopes at treeline revealed small wind slabs ranging from 4 inches to 12 inches thick. These 4F hard wind slabs were well bonded to the 1 cm thick P hard rain crust at the old/new snow interface. Numerous ski cuts on wind pillows and below small cornice features produced no cracking or other evidence of instability associated with these wind slabs. Ongoing areas of blowing snow were noted with continued wind loading and larger wind slabs seen from a distance in above treeline areas on N-NE-E aspects in the Steven's Peak complex.

Photos 1 & 2: Above mentioned ski cuts on wind slabs 4 to 12 inches thick that produced no evidence of instability.

Photo 3: Blowing snow and new wind slabs in the Steven's Peak complex.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
More detailed information about the weather: 

Cloud cover cleared much faster than forecast with cloud cover reduced to 25% by 10:30 am.