Cold Snow and Wet Snow on Tamarack Peak

Location Name: 
Tamarack Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 03/23/2016 - 12:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 19' 12.36" N, 119° 55' 23.196" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Minor wind scouring from last night's NE winds had occurred on Tamarack Peak. This scouring was limited to the upper part of the slope near the upper elevation ridgelines and no wind transport was visible today and winds remained light to calm. Ski cuts, general observations, and snowpit tests on slopes where wind slabs did exist showed no signs of instability and snowpit tests indicate that the snowpack continues to settle and consolidate. The snow on the N-NE aspects above 9000 ft. remained cold and soft today. On many of these aspects 15 to 20 cm of soft cold snow with a mix of firm dense snow and crusts below it. Any slopes that faced more E-SE-S-SW held wet sticky snow by mid-day and some skier triggered and natural roller balls and pinwheels started occurring on these slopes by noon. 

Photo 1: Minor wind scouring near the top of Tamarack Peak.

Photo 2: ECTX on a wind loaded test slope at the coordinates attached to this observation. Softer snow resting on top of a 1F hard wind slab resting on top of an old crust. 

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: 

Winds remained light to calm at all elevations today. No wind transport was observed.