Warm and windy on N side of Carson Pass

Location Name: 
Meiss Headwaters
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 12/06/2015 - 13:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 42' 35.7588" N, 120° 0' 32.9004" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Warm and windy day on the N side of Carson Pass. Sunny slopes softened into 5-10cm of wet snow by mid afternoon. Windward slopes did not have much loose snow available for transport. Leeward slopes above and near treeline were scoured from previous E winds and recent/current Strong SW winds. Limited snow was being redeposited in isolated terrain features both above and below treeline. Views to Roundtop showed some snow blowing back into the atmosphere and/or being redeposited well away from normal deposition zones. 

Pic 1: Windward slopes on approach to Meiss. Typically crossloaded gullies were wind scoured back to an old melt freeze crust.

Pic 2: Path at headwaters of Meiss (pindrop on map) did not have continuous and/or deep enough snow to be a concern. Old debris observed in this path.

Pic 3: Small pockets of supportable wind slab in the trees on the Meiss side, with cracking limited to under foot.

Pic 4: 2mm basal facets easy to find on shady slopes near and above treeline.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

No new snow observed here today