Observation from Elephant's Hump

Location Name: 
Elephant's Hump
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 01/18/2017 - 09:30
Location Map: 
United States
38° 41' 47.1804" N, 119° 58' 15.9204" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Surface conditions were wet snow. In some locations this was sitting on top of a newly formed 2-3 cm crust and elsewhere no crust was present. Beneath the surface crust soft snow existed. This soft snow ranged in height between 15 cms and 40 + cms above the old rain crust. 

Photo 1: 2-3cm crust over softer snow. Height of this softer snow varied signficantly . 

Photo 2: Wet surface snow easily clumps together

Photo 3: This was the shallowest location I observed with the pole basket sitting on the old rain crust.

Photo 4: Newly formed surface crust.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Although it was raining leaving Meyers this morning, there was no rain falling during my time in the Elephant's Hump area. A trace of fresh wet snow was on the ground.  Almost no old snow remained in the trees in this area.