Overnight Freeze

Location Name: 
Red lake Peak
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 04/01/2011 - 09:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 42' 50.0796" N, 119° 58' 49.1376" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Rapid warming
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Observations made today on Red Lake Peak showed evidence of a freeze last night due to radiational cooling. Shaded aspects at and above treeline had a 15cm thick knife-hard melt freeze crust that remained in the frozen state into mid morning. Solar aspects at and above treeline were already beginning to soften at the surface by 9am, but a 25cm thick pencil-hard layer just beneath the surface kept these aspects supportive and stable. Signs of wet instabilities were limited to solar aspects insulated by tree cover, where skier triggered roller balls and small, wet, loose slides were easy to initiate below 8000ft by 9:30am.

 

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

Light to Moderate W winds were observed only at ridgetops. Below ridgetops winds were Calm. Intense solar radiation and warm ambient temps.