North Winds on Castle

Location Name: 
Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 12/01/2016 - 09:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 54.648" N, 120° 21' 31.644" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

N nd NE winds picked up during the morning on Castle Peak and Andesite Ridge and scoured ridgelines and previously wind loaded slopes. Snow remained available for transport as of noon. Wind slabs that formed on leeward slopes were firm and did not extend very far downslope from the ridgelines nor were they very deep. In some areas, some unstable test results occurred on these small and limited wind slabs. Ski cuts on test slopes where wind slabs existed did not result in cracking or other signs of instability unless they were undercut. In scoured areas, no signs of instabilities existed. In more sheltered areas below treeline, observations and snowpit data did not reveal signs instability. Some surface hoar did exist on sheltered slopes, but it was already being destroyed in areas exposed to the wind. 

Snowpit from 8280' on the NW side of Castle Peak at coordinates on the map.

Photo 1: Surface hoar on the NW side of Castle Peak

Photo 2: Wind scouring on the west ridge of Castle Peak

Photo 3: Active wind transport and scouring over the summit of Andesite Ridge.

 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Northeast
More detailed information about the weather: 

Low clouds to the south during the morning hours.