Refreeze on Castle Peak

Location Name: 
South Side Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 03/02/2016 - 10:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 35.0172" N, 120° 20' 28.8276" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Melt freeze conditions existed in this area today with supportable ski conditions throughout the morning hours.  By 10:30am 2-3'' of wet snow existed on top of a firm supportable melt freeze crust providing good ski conditions on SE-S aspects.  Warming was occurring quickly in the mid to late morning hours and the light to moderate SW winds were not slowing down the warming process much if at all.   By 11am boot pen was 4'' on south aspects at 8000', by 11:15am boot pen just below 7500' was 8-10'' on south aspects on open slopes. 

Photo showing mostly supportable conditions at 8000' on a south aspect at 11am.  Boot pen 4''.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Mostly clear in the morning hours with some increasing high thin clouds into the mid day.