Wind Slabs at Blue Lakes

Location Name: 
Blue Lakes
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 01/23/2016 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 37' 10.3908" N, 119° 54' 39.0096" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Rapid warming
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Pic 1: ECTPE near Tamarack Lake. Consistent with other column tests at this site and informal obs throughout the day, from Hope Valley snopark to Indian Valley. Continued beating on columns produced another less planar failure down 50cm on a density change (above wet grains but not quite a rain crust), again consistent with other obs. At this site near Tamarack Lake, the rain crust buried on 1/18 was down 120cm and no weak layers above or below this crust were observed. As with last obs at this location on 1/18, no buried surface hoar observed in this area, with pit dug to 150cm today. 

Pic 2: Small natural avalanche on steep creek bank, at a shallow depth consistent with other obs.

Pic 3: Clear "tiger striping" signs of wind slabs visible throughout the area.

 

 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
More detailed information about the weather: 

Occasional snow showers, but not the precip rates forecasted. Few to Broken skies with noticeable mid-day warming. Instead of decreasing throughout the day, winds increased. Previous tracks even in the woods becoming drifted in upon our departure at 4pm.