Crusts and Consolidated Snow Poison Peak

Location Name: 
Poison Peak
Region: 
Bear Valley Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 12/09/2014 - 11:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 29' 55.14" N, 120° 0' 33.948" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Below 8000 ft. snow depths ranged from 2 to 12 inches. Above 8000 ft. snow depths increased to 20 to 30 inches. The northerly aspects held the most snow. A frozen supportable crust existed on all aspects up to at least 8500 ft. This crust was thickest and strongest on the E-SE-S-SW aspects. Below the crust on the N-NE aspects above 8000 ft. softer snow that had started to facet existed. The old layers at the base of the snowpack barely existed at these elevations, and where they did remain warm temps and rain had caused them to bond together. Snowpit tests, ski cuts on test slopes, and general observations did not reveal any signs of instability in this area today, but those near crust facets in the top of the snowpack warrant continued observation.  

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Overcast with a few breaks in the clouds.