Loose Wet Avalanches on Jakes Peak

Location Name: 
South Side Jakes Peak
Region: 
West Shore Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 02/07/2016 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 57' 36.2808" N, 120° 7' 25.5072" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Poor refreeze last night with mostly punchy and transitional snow surface conditions.  On shaded aspects some unconsolidated snow still exists above 7500'.  On E-SE-S aspects, 4-6'' of wet snow exists on top of colder snow which is on top of the 1/29 rain crust.  Sticky snow conditions existed below 7000' on all aspects.

Photos#1-3:  South side Jakes, SE/S aspect, 35 degrees into lower angle terrain.  Loose wet avalanche ran 600-800' and had debris up to 3-4' deep.  Thought to have occurred on Saturday afternoon.

Photo#4:  Emerald Bay Chute with loose wet avalanche debris in gully.

Photo#5:  East winds were transporting snow at the higher elevations.  Locally, minimal snow transport was partially filling in the skin track near 9000'.  Over Dicks Peak more snow was observed being transported.

Photo#6:  Small wet loose avalanches on East aspects today on 35 degree slopes near 9000'.  The surface wet snow was sliding on the wet snow/colder snow interface and running downslope to lower angle terrain.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
East