Observations from Armstrong Pass

Location Name: 
Armstrong Pass
Region: 
Luther Pass Area (including Job and Freel)
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 02/22/2016 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 49' 55.218" N, 119° 54' 43.956" W
US


Red Flags: 
Rapid warming

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

Pic 1: Mid day sun beginning to influence low angled N aspects, but overnight faceting is still winning out over the development of crusts. Shady slopes held cold, unconsolidated (faceted) snow at the surface by our departure mid-afternoon, with only light crust development on low angled N aspects.

Pic 2: N/NE winds moving snow over Freel Peak. Cool winds appeared to prevent loose wet instabilities today. Steep, sunny slopes with previous roller ball activity were not observed to repeat today, though snow surface was observed to be in melt phase with cold, unconsolidated snow below.

Several slope cuts of steep terrain on both sunny and shady aspects failed to show signs of instability today.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
North
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: