Weak basal facets at lower elevation. - Wildflower Ridge

Location Name: 
Wildflower Ridge
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 11/14/2015 - 12:15
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 27.2412" N, 120° 19' 6.9852" 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: 

North aspects on Mt. Judah including Wildflower ridge revealed potentially problematic basal facets today. Significant facets that previously had not been observed below about 8,500' were found today at 7,770'. Numerous hand pits between the top of Wildflower Ridge and the north end of the Mt. Judah summit ridge at 8,180' held very similar snowpack structure to the noted testpit from Wildflower Ridge. HS in this area was around 30 cm on N aspects above about 7,300' and significantly shallower elsewhere.

Photos: Facets from the top of the basal layer post ECTP result.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
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: 
Southwest