Wet snow on Jake's peak

Location Name: 
Jake's Peak
Region: 
West Shore Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 04/22/2011 - 10:20
Location Map: 
United States
38° 58' 8.9472" N, 120° 6' 50.3892" 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: 

Supportable crust conditions existed below 7,800' on all aspects on Jake's Peak at 10am. Above 8,000', the recent new snow of up to 4 inches was not assimilated with the melt freeze layer below. On N-NE aspects the recent new snow was either unmelted or capped by a 1 inch thick melt freeze crust. On E-SE aspects the new snow was very wet and melting but still not fully assimilated. Refreeze tonight will likely finish the process. Descending open NE-E-SE aspects between 8,400' and 8,000' small skier triggered roller balls occurred, but the wet recent new snow was too well bonded to the crust below to create any wet loose snow sluffs.

Photo: 10cm of wet recent new snow well bonded to a 17cm thick pencil hard melt freeze crust. 4 finger+ hard melt forms below.

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