Observations from West Grouse.

Location Name: 
West Grouse
Region: 
Blackwood Canyon or Ward Canyon Area
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 01/03/2018 - 12:20
Location Map: 
United States
39° 7' 43.9428" N, 120° 15' 5.832" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Well above freezing air temperatures in mid 40s had created moist to wet snow surface conditions on all aspects traveled up to at least 8,300' (E, SE, W, NW, N, NE aspects). On shaded northerly aspects, the wettest surface snow was found in areas of thick forest canopy. In many of these areas old facets were wet and rounding. In the open areas the snow surface was noticeably drier with the facet layer either dry or dry to moist. Snowpit data at the attached lat/long (NE aspect, 8,170', near treeline terrain) showed a problematic snowpack structure and snowpit test results pointing to instability, see video.

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

20180103 West Grouse Rock, Tahoe, CA ECTP

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
More detailed information about the weather: 

Increasing cloud cover and increasing winds during the afternoon hours ahead of approaching storm.