Rain and no overnight freeze on Donner Ridge

Location Name: 
Donner Ridge
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 03/04/2016 - 09:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 20' 52.6488" N, 120° 18' 5.5368" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Rapid warming
Observation made by: Educator at Donner Summit Avalanche Seminars
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Practicing our PSTs this morning (0930) on Donner Ridge, 7582 feet elevation on a 20 degree NNE slope.  Light rain throughout the morning with increasing SW winds.  Soft snow on this aspect (boot pen = 30 cm); HS ranged from 200-235 cm.  AirT = 4.0 C; all observed snow temps at 0 C.  We targeted the weak(est) grains below and/or above two crusts in three different snowpits 20 m apart.  PST ratios 98/100, 94/100, 100/100, end all.  Weak surface snows on all aspects and elevations due to rain and lack of overnight freeze.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Rain
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest