Observations from Tamarack Peak

Location Name: 
Tamarack Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 04/10/2016 - 10:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 19' 8.6484" N, 119° 55' 9.4908" W
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain

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

Snow level was generally around 9,300' on Tamarack Peak this morning. Periodic temporary depression of snow level down into the 7,800' to 8,800' range occurred during short lived periods of higher precipitation intensity. Storm snow amounts ranged from 5 cm at 8,600' to 15 cm at 9,700'. New snow was evenly distributed on all N-NE-E-SE aspects traveled, indicating light wind during deposition. Storm snow was decently, but not particularly well bonded to wet snow at the old/new snow interface. Recent high elevation rain had created wet snow and melt forms in the top 65 cm of the snowpack on N aspects at 9,700'. Testpit data collected at the noted lat/long revealed no signs of slab instability associated with recent new snow. Loose wet conditions were prominent below 9,000'. Skier triggered roller balls and pinwheels occurred in terrain steeper than 35 degrees at 8,800' and below.

Photo 1: Rain on new snow at 8,900'.

Photo 2: ECTN result in testpit at noted lat/long. HST 17 cm.

Photo 3: Skier triggered roller balls and pinwheels on E aspect at 8,800'.

 

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Mixed rain and snow
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Northwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Fog conditions present.