Light rain and minor wet snow instability on Lincoln Ridge

Location Name: 
Lincoln Ridge
Region: 
Yuba Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 03/20/2012 - 12:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 35' 20.004" N, 120° 29' 12.4908" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Rapid warming
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Light rain in the Yuba Pass area today and also reported at least as far south along the Sierra Crest as Donner Summit.

Wet snow existed on all aspects up to the top of the ridge at 7,800'. Minor wet snow instabilty in the form of very small wet loose avalanche and large roller balls on a test slope of NE aspect at 7,750' and 38-40 degree slope angle (photo).

Probing along N-NE aspects in this area from 7,600' to 7,750' revealed that the persistent weak layer of crust and facets was buried anywhere from 175cm to 205cm below the snow surface.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Rain
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: