Observations from Relay Peak

Location Name: 
Relay Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 02/02/2012 - 12:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 47.34" N, 119° 56' 25.7676" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

A stable snowpack exists in this area with near surface faceting and deterioration of the surface rain crust on northerly aspects as seen in other locations. The crust remains much more firm but still breakable under the weight of a skier on east aspects. South aspects are mainly melt freeze with some very shallow drifts of redistributed snow. Southerly aspects in this area (8,500' to 10,300') did not soften today.

Photo 1: North aspects scoured down to the rain crust that formed after the Jan 26 rain event. Snowmobiles and skis easily broke through the brittle rain crust into the soft (4F hard) faceted snow below the crust.

Photo 2: Redistributed snow on south aspects no more than 2 inches deep over melt-freeze crust. Similar conditions exist on west aspects in this area.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Northeast
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Minimal blowing snow observed.