Corn on East Apsects, Frozen Snow on North Aspects, Dirt on South Aspects - Carson Pass

Location Name: 
Elephant's Back
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 03/21/2015 - 12:30
Location Map: 
United States
38° 40' 52.0608" N, 119° 58' 57.558" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

2-3 inches of soft corn snow had formed above a strong and supportable melt-freeze crust on the sun-exposed E aspects in the Elephant's Back area by noon. The NE-N-NW aspects remained firm and frozen throughout the day. The snowpack has almost completely melted away from the SE-S-SW aspects in this area. On a few small isolated patches of snow still remain on those aspects. No signs of wet instabilities were observed today.

Photo 1: Looking at the NE-N aspects on Round Top and the Sisters. These aspects still have snow coverage.

Photo 2: Looking at the SE-S-SW aspects of Red Lake Peak. These aspects have almost no snow left.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
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: 

Some intermittent high thin cloud cover existed over Carson Pass today. It did not block much of the sunshine nor did it provide much of a cooling effect.