Obs from Andesite Ridge

Location Name: 
Andesite Ridge
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 02/17/2011 - 14:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 20' 33.8208" N, 120° 21' 5.2128" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Pit profile taken at/just above treeline at same location as video and noted lat/long.

Photo taken on creek bed/road cut at trailhead. E aspect test slope with very slight wind affect. Slab failure very similar to pit/video data  collected from up above on the ridge.

Heavy wind transport in the area. Shooting cracks in any slightly wind affected areas below treeline and in some wind protected areas. Near and above treeline, very unstable wind slabs 1+ foot deep with shooting cracks in all areas on N-NE-E aspects including very low angle slopes. I did not travel out onto steep heavily wind loaded areas.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

20110217 Andesite Ridge ECTV.MOV

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Greater than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: