Spring Snow and Variable Conditions on Castle Peak

Location Name: 
Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 12/11/2017 - 13:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 52.956" N, 120° 21' 34.668" 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: 

In exposed areas on northerly aspects, firm scoured conditions existed. Hard wind slabs still exist on some isolated NW aspects, but tests on these wind slabs showed inconsistent results and the wind slabs did not extend very far away from the ridgelines. In more sheltered areas, variable conditions existed on northerly aspects ranging from soft unconsolidated snow to thin breakable crusts to scoured surfaces.

On the southerly aspects, spring-like snow conditions existed with 2 to 3 inches of soft wet corn snow on top of a frozen supportable surface. Coverage on these aspects is starting to become patchy due to the lack of snow and warm sunny weather. 

Photo 1: ECTP on a NW test slope with a hard wind slab. See pit for more details.

Photo 2: ECTN on the same test slope. See pit for more details.

Photo 3: Spring-like snow conditions and patchy snow coverage on SW aspects.

Photo 4: Scoured surfaces on exposed northerly aspects. 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: