Unconsolidated Snow near Cinder Cone

Location Name: 
Cinder Cone
Region: 
Sawtooth Ridge to Tahoe City
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 02/23/2017 - 13:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 11' 34.7172" N, 120° 11' 12.2604" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Soft, cold, unconsolidated snow existed on sheltered NW-N-NE aspects. Ski cuts and tree "bombs" on test slopes steeper than 35 degrees resulted in small loose dry sluffs that involved the new snow. Snowpit tests, ski cuts on test slopes, handpits, probing, and general observations did not reveal any slab characteristics in the storm snow in sheltered areas. Large cornices were observed above exposed wind-loaded slopes from a distance. I did not approach these to see how fragile they were. Sun exposed W aspect did start to get a little wet by mid afternoon. At the lowest elevations (below 6800 ft.) some small skier triggered roller balls and pinwheels started to occur on sun-exposed W aspects at around 2 pm. 

Photo 1: ECTN results at two locations in the pit. The rain crust from the start of the storm is at the bottom and the snow below that was still wet. NW aspect at 7500 ft. 

Photo 2: Small Loose dry snow sluff on a sheltered NNW aspect at 7300 ft. 

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

A mix of sunny periods and snow showers in this area today.