Wet Snow and Rain on Andesite Ridge

Location Name: 
Andesite Ridge
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 04/04/2013 - 16:45
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 2.646" N, 120° 21' 59.1948" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Periods of moderate rain occurred through out the afternoon on Andesite Ridge. Rain continued up to at least 8200 ft. and remote sensors indicate that snow level was likely between 8500 and 9000 ft. 6-8 inches of slushy snow existed on the E-N-NE-NW aspects with a sometimes supportable sometimes non-existent crust below that. In areas where the crust existed loose ski cuts triggered small wet loose snow instabilities like those seen in the photo attached to this observation. In areas (mostly below 7600 ft) where the crust did not exist wet snow 2-3 ft deep existed.

Photo: Small roller balls and wet snow sluffs triggered by a ski cut on an ENE facing test slope at about 8000 ft.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Rain
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: