Wet Snow on Donner Peak

Location Name: 
Donner Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 04/11/2016 - 10:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 28.0692" N, 120° 18' 54.7416" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Wet snow ranging from ankle deep to deeper than boot tops existed on all aspects at all elevations on Donner Peak today. The snowpack did remain ski supportable until at least 10:30 am. Ski cuts on steep test slopes triggered small loose wet sluffs and several larger loose wet avalanches were observed on the the E face of Donner Peak and the E face of Mt. Judah. These likely happened in the last 24 hours. Observations in this area indicated that no refreeze occurred last night, but that the snowpack does have well established drainage channels.

Photo 1: Cupped snow surface as a result of melting and warming. 

Photo 2: Wet loose sluff triggered by a ski cut on a NE aspects at 7600 ft. 

Photo 3: Boot top deep wet snow on an ENE aspects at 7760 ft. at the coordinates attached to this observation. 

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: