East Wind Day on Judah

Location Name: 
Mt Judah
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 11/29/2016 - 11:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 19.5336" N, 120° 19' 1.1388" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Cold East wind day on Judah.  Soft but wind affected snow in trees at base area of approach with shallow but not boney snowpack.  Heavy wind scouring at wildflower ridge.  

Pit dug in protected NNE aspect below radio towers in trees at about 8000'.  95cm total snow depth, primarily four finger surface to fist softness with approx 15cm basal ice layer.  ECT 10 fracture without propagation at about 55cm at density change within new snow.  Post test this layer easily and cleanly pried lose.  Also post test and with considerable prying the entire column fractured unevenly at the top of the 15cm basal ice layer.  A small amount of faceting was at this surface.  The 55cm slab also released as I was kicking in my pit hole.

Moderate to strong E winds at summit.  NE face of judah and really every aspect above treeline was heavily windscoured.

A bit of heavy but soft and turnable snow to be found on very north and very protected pitches.  

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
East
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: