Surface hoar and near crust facets in Horse Canyon.

Location Name: 
Horse Canyon
Region: 
Bear Valley Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 12/12/2015 - 10:20
Location Map: 
United States
38° 29' 40.9488" N, 120° 1' 59.196" W
See map: Google Maps
US



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

Recent new snow in this area remained cold on northerly aspects and became sun affected on solar aspects today. Surface hoar was widespread both above and below treeline in open areas (photo). Crystal size ranged from 2mm to 10mm. Surface hoar was not destroyed by sun today on nil aspects and on northerly aspects in this area as of 2pm. A significant increase in cloud cover also occurred around 2pm. In wind sheltered areas, this surface hoar may become buried by new snowfall tonight. In wind exposed areas it will likely be destroyed. Surface hoar was destroyed on most steeper solar aspects today.

A new layer of near crust facets was noted just below the Dec 10 rain crust. Both this near crust facet layer and old rounding basal facets (now very moist) gave indications as problematic weak layers under future loading conditions in the PST. ECT test results were not able to collapse these weak layers.

Snowcover in this area remains thin on SE-S-SW-W aspects and is very supportable on NW-N-NE-E aspects.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
More detailed information about the weather: 

Cloud cover went from clear in the early morning to 50% by late morning and 100% by early afternoon.