Melt Freeze Conditions on Red lake

Location Name: 
Red Lake Peak SW Side
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 12/23/2014 - 14:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 42' 26.3556" N, 119° 59' 39.5052" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Firm crusts existed on shaded areas and northerly aspects above 8600 ft. in the Red Lake Peak area today. Snowpit tests on the northerly aspects indicated continued settlement and consolidation in the snowpack with snow layers becoming progressively stronger below the supportable surface rain crust. This rain crust existed up to at least 9600 ft and likely past 9800 ft. Extended Column Tests on a NE aspect at 8800 ft. indicated that fractures are unlikely to propagate through the snowpack.

On the sun-exposed S-SW aspects the snow surface softened while the sun was shining on it. 2-4 inches of wet soft melt freeze snow formed on the surface. These aspects also had less snow cover and many obstacles remained exposed.

Photo 1: Depth of the soft, wet melt freeze snow at 9400 ft. at 2:30 pm

Photo 2: Firm icy surface on an ENE aspect at 2:00 pm. This surface remained firm even though it received a little sun exposure.

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