Soft Snow Above 8500 ft and Shallow Snow Below - Powderhouse

Location Name: 
Powderhouse Peak
Region: 
Luther Pass Area (including Job and Freel)
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 02/02/2015 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 46' 58.908" N, 119° 59' 13.452" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Observations showed good bonding between the recent snow and the old snow surfaces on the northerly aspects of Powderhouse Peak. Above 8500 ft. snow coverage was decent and 2-3 inches of soft snow existed above a variable crust. Below this crust a softer layer still remained but observations and snowpit tests indicated that this softer layer continues to strengthen. In the afternoon the surface snow became wet and sticky on all aspects. At the lower elevations snow coverage was sparse and shallow at best.

Photo 1: Small skier triggered pinwheel on a north facing slope at 8600 ft. No large wet snow instabilities were noted in this area.

Photo 2: Snow coverage or lack thereof at 8100 ft. on a north aspect.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Cloud cover moved in around 11 am and some showers were noted north of our location along Lake Tahoe around noon.

Photo 3: Cloud cover looking north from the summit of Powderhouse Peak at 1:30 pm. Note the rain showers in the lookers right of the photo.