Loose Wet and Dry Activity on Jakes Peak

Location Name: 
Jakes Peak
Region: 
West Shore Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 03/23/2017 - 12:30
Location Map: 
United States
38° 58' 0.786" N, 120° 7' 3.756" W
US


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Rapid warming
Obvious avalanche path

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

Full sunshine with rapid warming occurring during the late morning into the mid day.  Several areas of small loose wet avalanches on E-SE-S aspects in the area before noon.  Total recent settled storm snow was up to 6'' deep.  On solar aspects, loose wet avalanches were sliding on a firm melt freeze crust and would fail easily on slopes over 35 degrees in steepness.  Some of these were running fast downslope and entraining a fair amount of snow depending on terrain.  Loose dry sluffing was common on NE aspects steeper than 35 degrees and was failing within the recent storm snow.  Below 7600', roller balls and small loose wet activity was occurring on NE aspects with snow becoming wet and sticky.  2-4mm surface hoar was observed on all aspects in the morning and was preserved on NE aspects above 7600' into the afternoon. 

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: