Firm snow on Castle Peak

Location Name: 
Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 01/15/2015 - 13:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 56.52" N, 120° 21' 29.16" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Frozen firm surfaces existed on all aspects on Castle Peak today. Cloud cover and increased winds prevented the southerly aspects from softening. Some very isolated patches of soft snow still remain on the northerly aspects. Snowpit tests and other observations on NW aspects between 8000 and 8400 ft. did not reveal any signs of instability, and the weak layer that was forming near the crust has started to round and bond with itself and the layers around it (see photo 1). Extended Column Tests targeting this layer all indicated that breaking this layer has become more difficult and that if it does break the resulting fracture should not travel very far.

Photo 1: Previous near crust facets that are now rounding

Photo 2: Firm frozen surfaces on a NW aspect at 8400 ft.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Mostly cloudy skies over Castle Peak and the northern part of the forecast area. Looking to the south skies looked much less cloudy and I could see sun on the slopes of Job and Freel.