Changing snow surface conditions of Mt. Judah.

I toured along the Mt. Judah ridgeline this afternoon to monitor changing snow surface conditions. As expected, the snow surface was very moist to wet on E-S-W aspects and lower angle, sun exposed N aspects. Steeper N aspect terrain, the ridgetop proper, and fully shaded terrain escaped melt today and held unconsolidated snow in wind protected areas all day. In the many areas where snow surface melt occurred, a thin melt freeze crust will be widespread on the snow surface tomorrow morning up to at least 8,500'.

As expected following the strong NE winds yesterday and last night, wind exposed near treeline and above treeline terrain showed signs of significant previous wind souring across N-NE-E aspects.There was lots of sastrugi, wind drifts, and old raised tracks near treeline and above treeline in areas exposed to NE winds.

Winds out of the W today were limited to the ridgetops and at the low end of moderate speed. I observed no drifting snow whatsoever. Boot pen along the ridgetop was up to 6 inches deep in many areas, indicating snow available for drifting in the future as winds increase ahead of the next storm system.