Observations from Rubicon Peak

Location Name: 
Rubicon Peak
Region: 
West Shore Area
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 03/20/2013 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 59' 21.48" N, 120° 8' 5.532" 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: 

New snow amounts in this area were limited to 5 inches above 7,500'. Wind slabs in wind loaded areas were limited to 10 inches thick. Skier trigger cracking of wind slabs and wind pillows along the NW ridge of Rubicon Peak were very short and limited to the top 2 inches of the snowpack (photo 2). Snowpit tests performed at noted lat/long (N aspect, 8,960', near treeline) revealed very repeatable results with ECTP- 15 on this 2 inch thick surface wind slab. No additional instability was observed below the thin surface wind slab with all ECTN results down to and below the old/new snow interface (photo 1).

Below 7,700', new snow was deposited on top of a melt phase wet snowpack that allowed for ski penetration up to 4 inches below the old/new snow interface and boot pen up to 9 inches below the old new snow interface (photo 3).

Snow level in this area was noted to have risen from 5,800' around sunrise to 6,900' at 9:30am. Snow level did not appear to have risen above 7,000' upon departure of the area at 12:30pm. Brief periods of lower snow level fluctuations were observed during periods of higher precipitation intensity.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Cloud cover was noted to thin in this area during the mid day hours but remained 90% to 100% coverage. Some sun breaks with cloud cover decreasing to 50% to 75% were noted over Lake Tahoe around 12:30pm.