A mix of Warm and Cool on Castle Peak

Location Name: 
Castle and Andesite Peaks
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Observation Date & Time: 
Sunday, April 16, 2023 - 11:30
Location: 
39.364783, -120.356956
See map: CalTopo
Is this an Avalanche Observation?: 
No


Conditions Alerts:

  • Rapid or Prolonged Warming
  • Rapid or Prolonged Warming›Warm Temperatures

Terrain Alerts: 
Terrain Matches the Advisory
Observation made by: Forecaster

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Observation
Description of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions: 

Despite warm overnight temperatures, clear skies allowed a good refreeze on Castle Peak last night. Today, we measured the melt-freeze crust at 6-8 inches thick in most places above 8000 ft. Clouds and SW winds slowed the melt rate, and SW-W-NW aspects above 8000 ft remained firm until at least noon when we departed the area. 1-2 inches of soft wet snow had formed on the surface of the E-SE-S aspects in those areas by midday. We saw no signs of wet loose instability at these upper elevations. 

Below 8000 ft, the refreeze was much thinner and almost completely melted away by 11:30 am. When we stepped off our skis, we sank into shin-deep wet snow. Ski cuts on steep E aspects also triggered rollerballs and shallow sluffs of wet snow by 11:45 am.

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Terrain: elevations: 
Above Treeline
Near Treeline
Below Treeline
Terrain: aspects: 
NW
E
SE
S
SW
W
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Elevation of Observation: 
7000 - 8000 ft.
8000 - 9000 ft.
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Sky Cover: 
Scattered - Partly Cloudy - 3/8 to 4/8 covered
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
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