Light Rain and Sticky Snow on Andesite Peak

Location Name: 
Andesite Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 03/09/2016 - 10:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 4.8492" N, 120° 21' 57.8952" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

1-2'' of new snow from yesterday afternoon was rain soaked from light rain to mist throughout the morning hours.  Rain went up to at least 8000' in the morning hours.  Very little evidence of wind loading occurring overnight with minor surface scouring and small cornice formation in the most wind prone locations in this area.  Surface snow is now rain soaked up to at least 8000' and will not be easy to wind transport now or in the future.  Roller balls and pinwheels could be triggered by ski cuts and cornice drops on steeper terrain on all aspects.  Large cornice drops did not reveal any wind slab instabilities in wind loaded terrain.  Sticky and thick surface snow existed on all aspects and elevations.

Photo#1:  Skier triggered roller balls on small test slope.  7800', NE aspect.

Photo#2:  Low level cloud/fog at 8000' @ 10:30am.

Photo#3:  Small loose wet instabilities on wind loaded E aspect off of peak.  8200'.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Rain
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest