Silver Peak Observation

Location Name: 
Silver Peak
Region: 
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 12/20/2015 - 11:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 13' 15.2112" N, 120° 14' 38.3568" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Storm snow consolidated quickly from yesterday leaving a fast condensed surface. Evidence of wind slabs forming on leeward aspects and scouring along ridgelines. Very little shooting cracks on ridge line wind deposits. All cracks were very localized around skis when crossing untracked snow.  Shallow crust of rounded crystals on all South aspects up to 1 inch thick on lower elevations after warming trend earlier this week. No observed signs of weakness at this layer interfacing with new snow.  Northwest to Northeast aspects did not have this layer but did have shallow wind slabs forming.  Gusty winds carried snow from ridgline into trees with some heavy gusts affecting snow downslope.

Any other comments about the observation or links to outside pages that have more info on the observation: 

Party set off a single wind slab on steep rocky terrain at bottom of East slope of Silver Peak. 30 feet wide and 2-6 inches deep. Triggered by skier on steep exposed terrain. Fracture did not propogate into other layers and released a small pocket of snow of steep rocky terrain which ran less than 50 feet.

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Winds picking up after 10:30 and transporting snow to North aspects