Observations from Donner Ridge

Location Name: 
Donner Ridge
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 02/25/2017 - 10:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 4.248" N, 120° 17' 41.856" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Educator at Donner Summit Avalanche Seminars
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Morning weather started out snowing S1- with limited visibility (flat light).  Cleared off by 0930.  Much natural cornice break on the lee, with minimal wind affected snow on ridge crests.  Shin deep powder snow on all aspects and elevations.  One planer break IDed within these soft snows 30-35 cm below surface.  Ski cutting the steep unsupported triggered only small loose dry avalanches.  One other skier-triggered loose dry (size 1) visible across valley on steep, convex N aspect.  On a scale from 1 to 10, the skiing was a solid 34.

By 1145 the air temp had spiked and snow on the sunny aspects was warming/changing fast.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: