Wet snow and corn conditions on northerly aspects on Donner Peak

Location Name: 
Donner Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 04/22/2012 - 10:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 26.46" N, 120° 18' 53.856" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

A thin refreeze occurred last night; however, by 8:30 am this surface refreeze had already melted on most northerly aspects below 8000 ft. leaving 8-24 inches of wet unconsolidated snow on top of snow colder drier snow deeper in the snowpack. Stability tests showed that snowpack weaknesses in the upper snowpack remain limited to wet snow instabilities. Ski cuts on steep slopes triggered small wet snow sluffs on NE-N-NW aspects between 8:30 am and 11 am.

Photo 1: The upper portion of the snowpack. Melt-freeze layers are readily apparent down to my lower hand. Below that the snowpack remains colder and drier.

Photo 2: A loose wet snow sluff on a NE facing test slope at 7700 ft. triggered by a ski cut.

Photo 3: Sun cups on a NW aspect at around 8000 ft.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: