Observations from Luther Pass

Location Name: 
Luther Pass
Region: 
Luther Pass Area (including Job and Freel)
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 01/21/2017 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 47' 58.1424" N, 119° 58' 27.5844" 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: 

HS on this normally shallow side of Luther Pass was observed to be ~250cm. 

Pic 1: A small, shallow, natural triggered storm slab. Ski cuts immediately adjacent to this, and on a similar feature nearby, did not produce further propagation.

Pic 2: Kicking test slopes showed obvious loose instabilities but snow was too un-cohesive to propagate. 

Pic 3: Several profiles in this area indicated a storm instability 50-70cm from the surface, but all ECTs required additional loading steps after initial fracture to propagate across the column. CTs were Resistant Planar at this same height.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Northwest
Accumulation rate: 
Greater than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Morning snow and wind both tapered-off mid day.