Observations from Blue Lakes

Location Name: 
Blue Lakes
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 03/29/2016 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 39' 9.432" N, 119° 56' 47.8608" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

7 to 10 cm of new snow existed on top of a melt freeze crust on all aspects in the Blue Lakes area today. Very little evidence of wind loading or wind slab formation existed on the leeward slopes. Hand pits showed a thin layer of near surface facets underneath this melt freeze crust on northerly aspects above 8000 ft, but tests on this layer did not reveal any signs of instability. Snowmobile cuts on wind loaded test slopes and sun exposed slopes did not produce any signs of instability either. Some small loose wet roller balls did occur on steep east facing slopes near rock outcrops around noon. 

Photo#1:  Loose wet roller balls off of rocks.  East aspect, 12noon, 8600'.

Photo#2:  Very limited wind scouring in this area from NW wind overnight.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Northeast