Loose wet snow avalanche on Angora Pk

Location Name: 
Angora Peak
Region: 
Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay)
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
Fri, 01/25/2013 - 02:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 52' 17.1228" N, 120° 4' 24.7008" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Forecaster
Avalanche Observations
Avalanche Type: 
wet,loose,
Slope: 
42degrees
Trigger type: 
Natural
Aspect: 
North
Weak Layer: 
Old Snow
Avalanche Width: 
350ft.
Terrain: 
Below Treeline
Elevation: 
7 800ft.
Bed Surface: 
Old Snow
Avalanche Length: 
800ft.
More detailed information about the avalanche: 

This avalanche was not reported to SAC until the night of Feb 16 and was examined on Feb 18. The debris from this natural loose wet snow avalanche were covered in a few inches of storm snow from Feb 7-8. This avalanche most likely occurred during the rain on snow event during the late night hours on Jan 24 into the early morning hours of Jan 25. In this area at that time, well developed near surface facets existed at the snow surface, created during the prolonged cold air temperature inversion period through much of January. Actual rainfall amounts significantly exceeded the forecast rainfall amounts on Jan 24-25, likely causing this avalanche. In some areas this avalanche exposed rocks and manzanita bushes, but left 1 to 2 feet of snow on the ground below the bed surface in most areas. It did not fail to ground level.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Avalanche Photos: 
Weather Observations
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Precipitation: 
Rain
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: