Unstable wet snow on Andesite Peak.

Location Name: 
Andesite Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 04/15/2017 - 15:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 20' 58.8696" N, 120° 21' 55.3464" 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: 

Getting out on Andesite Peak during the mid to late afternoon hours revealed the expected loose wet instabilities. Wet snow existed on the snow surface on all aspects up to the summit at about 8,200'. Shaded NE aspects held 1 to 2 inches of wet snow on the surface while the E and SE aspects traveled held closer to 3 to 6 inches of wet surface snow.

Ski cuts and intentional collapses of small cornice sections on slopes steeper than 35-37 degrees produced loose wet avalanches entraining the top 1 foot(+/-) of the snowpack.

Large roller balls up to 3 feet diameter were easy to skier trigger. These roller balls would often break apart and then reform to 1 to 2 feet in diameter before coming to a stop.

 

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
More detailed information about the weather: 

High level cloud cover allowing for significant amounts of incoming solar radiation.