Wet snow and thunderstorms on Incline Lake Peak

Location Name: 
Incline Lake Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 04/23/2012 - 13:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 17' 39.138" N, 119° 56' 25.7208" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Wet snow up to 2 ft deep existed on E-NE-N-NW aspects up to the summit of Incline Lake Peak by 1pm. This wet snow was unsupportable by 1 pm. Snowpit data showed that strong, cold dry snow still exists below this wet surface snow. Tests also showed that wet snow instabilities remain possible due to melting weakening the the snowpack. Small skier triggered sluffs and roller balls did occur on steep slopes on any aspect with wet snow on it. Very little snow remains on the southerly aspects on Incline Lake Peak.

Photo 1: Sinking up to my boot top in wet snow on a N aspect at 9200 ft.

 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Rain
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Thunderstorms developed along the Crest and on the east side of the lake by 1:30 pm. They produced brief periods of rain.

Photo 2: Thunderstorms building over Mt. Rose

Photo 3: Thunderstorm along the Sierra Crest