Castle Peak Observations

Location Name: 
Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 11:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 51.6528" N, 120° 20' 51.108" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Lots of evidence of wet snow instabilities over the past week of warm temps and light rain.  Snow depths in this area vary widely with most solar aspects showing thin conditions.  Shaded aspects have drainage/rain runnels on all slopes with lots of previous wet snow instabilities.  Snow conditions were a mix of firm supportable crusts, a lot of unsupportable breakable crusts, and some areas with deep punchy snow conditions.  Solar aspects were refrozen in the morning and warming up to good corn conditions by late morning into the early afternoon.  No snow instabilities seen today.

Photo#1 Wet loose snow avalanches from last week during the rapid warming and rain event.

Photo#2:  Showing rain/drainage runnels on north aspects.

Photo#3:  Previous wet snow instabilities, north aspect, 8800'.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: