Conditions on Silver Peak

Location Name: 
Silver Peak
Region: 
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 12/19/2017 - 09:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 13' 22.476" N, 120° 14' 44.592" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Snow coverage below 7500 ft. was almost non-existent on Silver Peak. Northerly aspects above 7500 ft. had decent coverage with up to 90 cm of snow in sheltered N-NE aspects between 7500 and 8200 ft.  In sheltered below treeline areas, soft unconsolidated surface snow still existed in many areas on northerly aspects. On exposed slopes firm, icy scoured snow surfaces existed especially in near and above treeline terrain. Snowpit tests indicated that where the soft surface snow exists it remains weak and could serve as w weak layer in the future. This layer of soft surface snow existed on top of a thick frozen rain crust. 

Photo 1: Minimal snow coverage below 7500 ft.

Photo 2: Scoured surfaces on exposed slopes in above treeline terrain.

Photo 3: Near surface facets.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

SW winds started to increase along the ridgelines.