Crusts and Corn on Mt. Judah

Location Name: 
Mt. Judah
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 02/19/2015 - 10:45
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 21.996" N, 120° 18' 59.58" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Obvious avalanche path
Terrain Trap
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

A supportable melt-freeze crust existed on northerly aspects with a couple of inches of softer snow below it. A very strong and thick rain crust with old moist snow beneath it exists below the softer snow layer. Snowpit data and tests did not show any signs of instability. Sun exposed east aspects had 1-2 inches of corn on them by 11 am. This 1-2 inches of soft wet snow rested above a supportable melt freeze base. No signs of wet snow instabilities were observed. Snow coverage became sparse below 7600 ft. on all but the northerly aspects.

Photo 1: Frozen melt freeze crust on a NNW aspect @ 7600 ft.

Photo 2: Small sun cups on a WNW aspect @ 7800 ft.

Photo 3: Snow coverage below 7600 ft.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
More detailed information about the weather: 

Mostly sunny with some thin high clouds today.