Observations from Becker

Location Name: 
Becker Peak
Region: 
Echo Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 02/21/2016 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 49' 52.9572" N, 120° 3' 15.876" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Air temps already above freezing upon our arrival shortly after 8am. 

Pic 1: On sunny aspect at around 10am, thick layer of wet snow (20cm+) observed below recent storm snow (snowpack temps below storm snow observed at 0c with water visible to naked eye), likely remaining from pre-storm warm temps and wet start to storm. Storm snow not yet transitioned to wet except at the surface. 

Pic 2: On shady aspects up to high point of 8,000ft, surface snow remained dry and cold until our departure around 3pm. Near surface faceting observed on shady slopes throughout area, even in moderate tree cover. Tsurf and T10 observations supported this.

Several snowpits dug on shady slopes showed graupel layer remaining intact at base of recent storm snow. Although CTs had consistent Sudden Planar results on graupel, no ECTs showed signs of propagation. No signs of instabilities observed on shady aspects. Views of sunny aspects late into day showed no signs of natural wet instabilities.

 

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Very thin, high clouds throughout day