Observations from Silver Peak

Location Name: 
Silver Peak
Region: 
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 02/22/2017 - 13:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 13' 24.42" N, 120° 14' 34.0296" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

12+ inches of new snow had accumulated by this morning in the Silver Peak area. In below treeline terrain this cold new snow rested on top of more consolidated storm snow from previous days. Hand pits and snowpit tests indicated good bonding between the older snow and the most recent snow. Observations also did not reveal many slab characteristics in the new snow in sheltered areas. Settlement cracks around trees in sheltered areas indicated that the storm snow is settling and consolidating. In wind-exposed near and above treeline areas, some wind-loaded had formed soft wind slabs on leeward aspects. Ski cuts and snowpit data on wind loaded test slopes did reveal a density change at the base of the wind slab, but data also indicated that fracture propagation across this layer had become unlikely in this area. NW-NE winds did occur this afternoon and start to scour some exposed N-NE aspects. 

Photo 1: Cornice piece dropped onto a wind-loaded slope. It only triggered  sluffing  in the new snow and rolled down the slope.

Photo 2: Settlement cracks around a tree

Photo 3: Wind scouring on a N-NE aspect near the Silver ridgeline

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Northwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: