Warm Temps and Poor Snow on Castle Peak

Location Name: 
Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 04/19/2012 - 07:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 46.3356" N, 120° 20' 43.4904" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Below 7500' ski pen was 2-3'' in open terrain and up to 4-6'' in treed terrain, no signs of any sort of freeze at these locations.  Above 7500' there was a very slight melt freeze crust that was not ski supportive and had similiar ski pen.  Moderate W winds were keeping the snow surface slightly cooler above 8700' on the exposed ridge. 

Ski conditions were mostly a grabby breakable crust above 7500' and punchy and sticky conditions below 7500'.

Photo #1and #2:  Morning fog in the Donner Summit area and south.  Fog layer around 7500-8600' and started to burn off with the increased morning sun.

Photo #3 and #4:  North side of Castle Peak.  Lots of wet slide activity over the last week since the last freeze on Sunday morning.  Not much smooth snow out there.  Some large cornices still loom but many have melted considerably or have already failed.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Calm to light winds everywhere except Moderate W winds on the upper ridge.  At 7:30am at 8720:  AirTemp was 2c, Tsurf 0c, skies were mostly clear above the fog, surface was melt freeze crust, boot pen 20cm.