Strong Winds and Variable Snow on Incline Lake Peak

Location Name: 
Incline Lake Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 03/31/2017 - 10:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 17' 38.4216" N, 119° 56' 26.2284" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Gale force NE winds on the summit ridge of Incline Lake Peak.  Wind scoured NW-N-NE-E aspects and wind loaded E-SE-S-SW aspects.  Most slopes had variable snow conditions with exposed icy crusts, wind packed surfaces, wind scoured snow, and patches of softer recent storm snow. Wind slabs up to 14'' existed in wind loaded terrain mostly near treeline but also in isolated areas below treeline.  These wind slabs were dense 1F hardness snow over previous crusts or F hard storm snow.  Ski kicks on test slopes where these wind slabs existed triggered shooting cracks and small test slope failures. In the most wind protected below treeline areas, more consistent soft snow remained on some lower angle slopes.

Photo 1: Wind scoured icy crust and wind affected new snow.

Photo 2: 14 to 16-inch deep wind slab on a small SW facing wind loaded test slope in an open area near or below treeline.

Photos 3 and 4: Cracking on a wind-loaded S and SE facing test slopes near the summit of Incline Lake Peak.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Gale Force
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Northeast