Snowpit on Waterhouse Peak

Location Name: 
Waterhouse Peak
Region: 
Luther Pass Area (including Job and Freel)
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 03/29/2012 - 13:45
Location Map: 
United States
38° 46' 40.62" N, 119° 57' 54.828" 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: 

Northerly aspects above 8400 ft still held cold dry snow as of 2 pm this afternoon on Waterhouse. Below 8400 ft sun exposed areas had started to become wet and sticky even on the northerly aspects. Some small roller balls did occur in response to ski turns on these lower elevation slopes.

Ski cuts and small cornices dropped on wind-loaded test slopes along the summit ridge line did not result in any fractures or shooting cracks.

Snow pit data from 9200 ft on a NE aspect showed a shallower snowpack without a well developed rain crust like the one seen on Hidden Peak yesterday. Tests showed that the recent snow has formed a strong stable layer in this area. Tests on the more deeply buried persistent weak layer indicated that it has also gained some strength and that fracture propagation is unlikely at the pit location.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: