Variable Conditions on Castle Peak

Location Name: 
Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 12/29/2014 - 12:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 56.4408" N, 120° 21' 41.7528" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Variable surface conditions including exposed frozen crusts, unconsolidated snow, and wind packed snow existed on all aspects in the Castle Peak area today. Even the more wind-sheltered slopes had areas of exposed crusts mixed in with areas where a few inches of unconsolidated snow existed above the supportable rain crust. The sun-exposed E-SE-SW-W aspects also remained firm and frozen until at least 2 pm. Snowpit tests and other general observations did not reveal any signs of instability. Snowpit data did indicate the beginnings of a weak layer around the rain crust, but tests on this layer did not yield unstable results. Surface hoar existed on the snow surface on northerly aspects at all elevations this afternoon.

Photo 1: Surface Hoar on a N aspect @ 8200 ft.

Photo 2: Variable surface including an exposed rain crust and a "chalky" wind pack surface.

Video: Snowpit at the coordinates attached to this ob.

Snowpack photos: 
Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

VID 20141229 120627

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Some minor snow transport along the upper elevation ridge lines today.