Heavy snow fall at Carson Pass

Location Name: 
Dumping on Carson Pass
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 01/31/2016 - 03:49
Location Map: 
United States
38° 42' 6.6816" N, 119° 59' 29.9256" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Public
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

:Snow fall was steady throughtout the day accumulating 1-2" per hour at times. Probing around on the way out showed an average of 35cm of new snow that fell by 4:00 this afternoon. Winds where calm and not affecting the surface at all.

During the compression test one layer at about 85cm was reactive providing Q1 SP results, this layer failed on two seperate tests. Since it gave such a clear results we decided to do an ECT and got an ECTV25 that collapsed and fell to the ground as shown in the video. Clear slab properties are above this reactive layer. During the compression tests we also had some results down lower at the interface of the recent new snow on top of the Jan. 29 rain layer. The results showed Q2 SC. This layer was not reactive during the ECT.

Picture 1: Here is the compression test faliure at 85cm

Picture 2: 2-3mm sized clusters forming from the Jan. 29th rain event. This layer was was about 125cm down from the surface and was super saturated isothermic snow, measuring -1 degree celsius.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

Carson Pass ECT

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
Greater than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: