Snowpack observations from Mt. Judah

Location Name: 
Mt. Judah
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 16:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 10.8216" N, 120° 19' 2.73" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

The melt-freeze snow on the southerly aspects did not soften as much today as on previos days due to less sun and cooler temperatures. On the top 1 inch had softened on southerly aspects by late afternoon today. The snow on almost all other aspects was a mix of firm refrozen crusts, wind crusts, and some pockets of unconsolidated on northerly aspects above 7800'. The crust on northerly aspects did still have a thin layer of weak snow below it in some areas. Surface hoar also existed on many northerly slopes up to 8200'. These weak snow grains did no get destroyed by sun or wind today and could pose a problem if the incoming snow buries this layer of weak crystals.

Photo 1: Surface hoar grains on the summit of Mt. Judah at 4pm.

Snowpack photos: 
Any other comments about the observation or links to outside pages that have more info on the observation: 

 

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

Snowfall started a aprox. 4pm with a burst of graupel.