Warm and wet day on Jake's

Location Name: 
Jake's
Region: 
West Shore Area
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 03/14/2011 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 58' 2.496" N, 120° 7' 2.676" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Pic: 20cm of new wet snow @ 8500ft E aspect. Old snow surface comprised of saturated wet grains. A density change, likely from temp spike, can be seen at 260cm. HS=280cm. CTs and ECTs from parking to 8500ft showed easy to moderate progressive compression within storm snow, with poor shear quality and no propagation.

Video: RB2 WB down 15cm above subtle density change. Just after I stopped filming, the skier dropped at knees (RB3) and caused an additional WB failure just above new/old interface at 40cm. Test performed at given lat/long. No informal signs of slab instability at this location. No persistent weak layers observed.

Significant and widespread roller ball activity, both natural and skier caused. This additional loading did not produce any observed slab failure, nor any loose slides large enough to cause harm - including in distinct avalanche path skiers L and downhill of RB site.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Mixed rain and snow
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Minimal blowing snow, restricted to ridge top. Afternoon warming and rain showers observed below 8000ft, though snow level may have risen higher.