Observations from Carson Pass

Location Name: 
Carson Pass - N side
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 04/03/2016 - 09:30
Location Map: 
United States
38° 42' 30.4128" N, 119° 59' 29.5404" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Well established melt-freeze conditions were observed in the Carson Pass area on solar aspects this morning. A decent snow surface refreeze occurred last night in open terrain on Carson Pass while a poor snow surface refreeze occurred in treed areas. In open areas at 9:30 am, a supportable 8 cm thick surface melt freeze crust existed with the top 2 cm in melt phase on E-SE aspects. Deeper wet snow existed below the crust. In treed areas, the melt-freeze surface crust was thinner and weaker at just 3 to 4 cm thick and collapsed under the weight of a skier in some areas. S-SW aspects were also undergoing rapid snow surface melt, nearly mirroring the melt rate on E-SE aspects.The first signs of developing problematic wet snow instability were observed around 11:15 am with pockets of unsupportable deep wet snow interspersed within larger areas of still supportable wet snow conditions.

Photos 1&2: Treed area with poor snow surface refreeze and breakable crust over wet snow conditions.

Photo 3: Steep N aspect terrain at 9,600' receiving enough sun exposure under the high angle April sun for melt-freeze crust formation to occur.

Photo 4: Pocket of deep unsupportable wet snow with 25 cm boot penetration, S aspect at 8,700' at 11:15 am.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
More detailed information about the weather: 

Moderate speed SW winds present during the late morning hours, filling in a few hours earlier than forecast.