Breakable crusts eroding on the Fireplug

Location Name: 
Fireplug
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 02/05/2012 - 14:45
Location Map: 
United States
39° 19' 30.0684" N, 119° 54' 29.3868" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Similar to other places around the forecast area, the northerly aspects on the Fireplug remain covered with a thin breakable crust. The recent weather has allowed facetting to occur within the top portions of the snowpack, and this process continues to erode the crust layer making it thinner and more fragile as time goes by. This process has also created a layer of weak snow just below the crust. Luckily no slab layers exist on top of this weak layer. The deeper layer of facets noted on Incline Lake Peak a few days ago did not seem to exist in this area.

On more sun-exposed aspects cooler weather has prevented much softening from occurring. Today the snow surface remained firm and even icy in some areas (see attached photo) at this elevation.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: