Cold East Wind and Minor Melting on Judah

Location Name: 
Mt. Judah
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 03/18/2014 - 13:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 11.5668" N, 120° 18' 34.6176" W
See map: Google Maps
US



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

Cold east winds and cooler daytime temperatures kept the snowpack frozen above 7800 ft. on all aspects even the sun-exposed southerly ones. Lower elevation sun exposed E-SE-S-SW sheltered from the east winds did experience enough melting by 1 pm for 1-2 inches of soft corn snow to form above a thick, strong, and frozen layer of melt freeze snow. No signs of loose wet snow instabilities were observed.

The northerly aspects held a stable snowpack with firm crusts on the surface at all elevations until I departed the area at 2pm.

Photo 1: 2 inches of soft corn snow on a S aspect at 7400 ft at 1 pm. This photo is from the coordinates attached to this observation.

Photo 2: Frozen melt-freeze surface at 8200 ft. on a SSE aspect at 12:30 pm near the summit of Mt. Judah.

 

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
East
Accumulation rate: 
None