Some Refreeze on Castle

Location Name: 
Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 03/17/2015 - 12:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 35.9928" N, 120° 21' 50.4792" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

A party staying who stayed at the Peter Grubb reported light snow showers last night and below freezing temperatures in the Castle Peak area. As a result of this colder weather evidence of a  refreeze existed in the Castle Peak area this morning. N and NE aspects held a frozen surface crust with 1-2 ft of wet snow below it. East aspects held similar conditions before 10 am, but the March sunshine and daytime warming had already started to melt through last night's refreeze by 10:30 am. By noon unsupportable wet snow up to 18 inches deep had formed on some east aspects while on other E aspects a few inches of corn snow sat on top of a melt freeze crust that would still support a skier.

Photo 1: Snow cover varies greatly by aspect. The NW aspect on the looker's left of the photo still has decent coverage while the SE aspects on the looker's right is completely bare. This photo was taken at the location attached to this observation.

Photo 2: Deep wet snow @ 8200 ft. on and E aspect on @ 12:20 pm Andesite Ridge.

Photo 3: Corn snow on top of a supportable melt-freeze crust on another E aspect on Andesite Ridge @ 8100 ft. @ 12:30 pm.

Photo 4: Plants budding out a few months ahead of schedule on an east facing meadow at 7500 ft. as the snowpack melts away from the lower elevations.

Photo 5: The Castle Peak Rd just below Castle Pass @ 7800 ft.

 

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Light snow flurries reported at 7800 ft. last night. No evidence of new snow remaining by 10:30 am this morning.