Minimal wet snow instability at noon on Jake's Pk

Location Name: 
Jake's Peak
Region: 
West Shore Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 12:05
Location Map: 
United States
38° 58' 0.7788" N, 120° 6' 45.6012" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Up to 4 inches of new snow existed above 8,000' in the shade on northerly aspects. A few feet away in sun exposed areas this snow had settled and slightly melted down to less than 1 inch. New snow was well bonded to the old snow surface in all areas with no evidence of slab instability. Any ares with significant wind loaded or wind drifted depth of new snow were small and patchy. Below 8,000' where air temperatures were warmer, too little new snow existed to present much of a warming instability issue. Above 8,000' where more snow existed, very little warming was occurring.

Video: Skier trigger roller balls at noon on an E aspect at 8,340' (noted lat/long) that remained very small due to minimal free water formation within the new snow layer.

Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

201100414 Jake's Pk small roller balls.MOV

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

High cloud cover varied from thick to thin during the morning hours.