Transporting snow

Location Name: 
Andesite Ridge
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 12/30/2014 - 01:05
Location Map: 
United States
39° 20' 49.704" N, 120° 21' 52.1784" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Old raincrust breaking down and faceting from below freezing temperatures. Crust of 1.5 to 2 inches easily breakable in places to skier supportable in others that crumbled under moderate hand pressure. Large wind transport of snow to westerly aspects depositing around features and in gullies that was loose and unconsolidated on Southern aspects. Some minor wind slab formation in places but mostly loose and available for transport. Some protected areas have collected 2-4 inches of snow which skied well with smooth surface underneath. Forested areas had crusted and variably rough surface with lots of forest debris on surface. A shovel compression test revealed no results as new snow compressed and fractured in random fashion with no clear planar failure. I suspect specific locations will form wind slabs and large deposits. Observed depostis were from a few inches to 2 feet and widely variable due to terrain.   Other than that it was cold. Felt like winter and my cheeks ached enjoying winter winds.

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Northeast
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Heavy winds as projected today transporting snow to Westerly aspects and scouring Easterly Aspects. Gppd frostbite potential on ridgetops and treeline.