Observations from Mt. Judah

Location Name: 
Mt. Judah
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 02/18/2014 - 12:05
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 5.436" N, 120° 19' 0.444" W
See map: Google Maps
US



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

A mix of melt freeze conditions and stable wind slabs up to 1 foot thick were observed in this area today. Melt freeze existed on all aspects below 7,800'. Above 7,800' N-NE-E aspects held cold surface snow, highly wind effected, but not subjected to previous melt freeze. Where surface wind slabs lingered, a notable weak layer of significantly lower density rounded snow crystals exists between the base of the wind slab and the top of the prominent rain crust. Propagation tests and numerous ski cuts indicated at that triggering failure of these wind slabs was unlikely in this particular area, despite the significant lower density weak layer sandwiched between a high density slab and bed surface.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

20140218 Mt. Judah

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
More detailed information about the weather: 

Thin high cloud cover decreased as the afternoon hours progressed.