Observations from Chickadee Ridge

Location Name: 
Chickadee Ridge
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 01/26/2015 - 11:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 17' 36.096" N, 119° 54' 13.932" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

On northerly aspects firm, supportable, frozen surfaces existed in most places. Below the surface crust a mix of crusts and softer snow existed. Snowpit tests indicated that the snowpack continues to gain strength and that fracture propagation along the softer layers remains unlikely. Snowpit tests from the location noted in this observation are as follows: 2 x ECTN 24 @ 69 cm below the supportable surface crust, PST 99/100 (END @ 69 cm same layer as the ECT's), PST 96/100 (END @ 48 cm on a second softer layer under a second crust). These results show a strengthening trend when compared to nearby test results from 1/18/15.

Across the ridge on the SE-S aspects, 1-2 inches of soft wet snow existed on the sun-exposed slopes as of 10:30 am. Once cloud cover started to move in at that time the surface snow softening slowed down and some areas even started to refreeze.

Photo 1: 1 inch of soft wet surface snow on a S aspect @ 8800 ft. @ 10:40 am.

Photo 2: Cloud cover starting to move in from the south around 10:45 am.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Clouds started moving in from the south around 10:45 am. These clouds obscured the sun and slowed down the surface melting.