Snow conditions on Castle Peak

Location Name: 
Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 04/04/2011 - 14:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 47.7684" N, 120° 21' 14.6376" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

E-SE-S-SW-W aspects all showed signs of significant warming over the last week. Large and widespread runnels existed on all these aspects. 4-8 inches of wet snow existed above a thin but still supportable melt-freeze crust on these aspects. By 3pm some small skier triggered roller balls started to occur on S-SW facing aspects steeper than 35 degrees between 7400 ft and 8400 ft. The snow became wet, sticky, and  'punchy' by this time indicating that last night's refrozen layer had melted all the way through in some isolated areas . Some of the NE-N-NW aspects below 8000 ft also had signs of warming. These more northerly aspects had smaller runnels and less wet snow on the surface.

Photo 1: Runnels on an E aspect at 7600 ft.

Photo 2: Runnels on a S aspect at 8000 ft.

Photo 3: Widespread runnels and signs of warming in Castle Valley.

Photo 4: Wet snow above the last of the refrozen layer from last night at 8200 ft on a SW aspect.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: