Donner Summit Observations

Submitted by steve on Wed, 03/10/2010 - 5:13pm
Location Name: 
Donner Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area

Location

United States
39° 18' 42.6204" N, 120° 19' 5.898" W
See map: Google Maps
Position: 
Professional Observer
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 12:00pm
Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Snowpit Observations
Snowpack photos: 
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

4-6'' of very cold dry snow in most locations with up to 12-16'' in wind loaded areas.  Some very localized cracking in the heaviest wind loaded areas, heavy sluffing in steeper terrain.  There were many natural point releases that were witnessed early this morning, on N and E aspects.  Some minor roller ball acitvity on solar aspects in the afternoon.  Hand pits and a CT showed the weakness to be in the storm snow just above the old snow/new snow interface with easy CT's. 

Photo #1: N-NE winds in the moderate range in the morning moving snow back over to SE-S-SW aspects.  Winds tapered off by late morning and became light NE.

Photo #2: Very cold snow, on the surface 3-5mm plates and stellar crystals.

Photo #3: Some cornices were fragile and broke off easy with a ski kick.  Lots of snow entrained but very little to no propagation with load.

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Wind Direction: 
Northeast
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Air temperature trend: 
Static