Snow still on the move on Donner Summit

Location Name: 
above Donner Pass Road
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
Thu, 03/17/2016 - 10:02
Location Map: 
United States
39° 19' 18.3936" N, 120° 18' 52.7328" W
US


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Rapid warming
Terrain Trap

Observation made by: Educator at Donner Summit Avalanche Seminars
Avalanche Observations
Avalanche Type: 
Wet
Loose/Point-Release
Slope: 
40degrees
Trigger type: 
Natural
Aspect: 
East
Weak Layer: 
Old Snow
Terrain: 
Below Treeline
Elevation: 
6 900ft.
Bed Surface: 
Ground
Number of similar avalanches: 
2
More detailed information about the avalanche: 

Amid the wholesale rodgering of the N side of Donner Peak earlier this week ((first 4 photos) modest fracture depths but with  w  i  d  e  releases), the warm weather is now inducing the new snowpack to glide (last photo).  Substaintial melt freeze crust (8 cm) this morning is overlaying still-cold (-2 C) snows on shaded aspects.  I narrowly out-ran a first, and the tail end of my truck was struck by a second, wet loose release that ran onto Donner Pass Road near the Peanut Gallery.  This occurred at 1002.

Avalanche Photos: 
Weather Observations
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: