Unstable wet snow on E aspect of Rubicon Peak.

Location Name: 
Rubicon Peak
Region: 
West Shore Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 04/16/2017 - 11:15
Location Map: 
United States
38° 59' 18.8052" N, 120° 7' 59.0628" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Unstable wet snow/signs of loose wet avalanche problems observed on the E aspect of Rubicon Peak just above 9,000' late this morning. Roller ball activity was easy to initiate (video). A ski cut placed on a test slope in the area of easy to initiate roller ball activity produced a 3 inch deep loose wet avalanche (photo).

N aspects held mosty breakable crust conditions at mid day. In some of the sun exposed lower angle N aspect areas, the surface crust had melted away to leave about 1 inch of wet snow on the surface. Recent storm snow unaffected by melt-freeze existed below either the breakable crust on melted crust/surface wet snow. Transitional snow surface conditions.

Snowpack photos: 
Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

20170416 Unstable wet snow on E aspect Rubicon Pk, CA.

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Increasing cloud cover during the morning hours. Nearly full sun for much of the morning gave way to fairly thick high level cloud cover at mid day.