Corn Snow on Mt. Houghton

Location Name: 
Mt. Houghton
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 02/08/2018 - 11:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 19' 54.3612" N, 119° 56' 4.7832" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Supportable melt freeze crusts exist on most SE-S-SW aspects providing good corn snow in the late morning hours up to the top of Mt. Houghton.  Cold unconsolidated snow exists on many shaded northerly aspects with wind scoured surfaces in upper elevation exposed terrain.  All other aspects have a mix of breakable crusts and crud.  E aspects in this area are still transitioning to melt freeze conditions with wet surface snow and colder snow beneath.  Usable snow line is around 9000' for S/SE aspects while northerly aspects goes down to around 8400'.

Multiple ski cuts on steep E aspects mid day only showed small roller ball results.  No signs of larger loose wet avalanches were observed throughout the area.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: