Silver Peak Observations and Snowpit

Location Name: 
Silver Peak
Region: 
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 12/21/2014 - 11:45
Location Map: 
United States
39° 13' 26.544" N, 120° 14' 28.32" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Rapid warming
Observation made by: Public
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Significant warming overnight and during the day lead to a full isothermic snowpack.  We toured up the ridgeline between the Silver Peak East Bowl and Northern trees (and skied the North trees).  The shaded North aspects were extremely wet with runnels and evident free water drainage in the snowpack.  No instabilities noted other than minor roller balls (on shaded North aspects).  We did not ski East aspects due to evidence of warming and attempted to stay in Northern shaded trees.  Probed to the ground, but only focused 60cm and above in pit due to rain crust layer at 60cm.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

Significant warming from prior two days, with thick fog cover and moist air.  Moderate winds out of the West - although no snow movement (as leeward aspects were likely too wet for transportation).