Castle Peak Observations

Location Name: 
Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 01/18/2012 - 07:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 53.568" N, 120° 21' 40.68" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Observation work done on NW gullies above Castle Pass.  HS=40-70cm across upper start zone.  Very weak snowpack dominated by facets and a mostly supportable rain crust near the surface.  Some future potential failure layers depending on how our forecasted storms work out.  The biggest snowpack concern for the next storms seem to be the weak faceted grains above and below the near surface rain crust that was created in late December. 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

Cloud cover increased by mid morning, mostly clear in early morning hours.