New Snow at Slab Cliffs

Location Name: 
Slab Cliffs
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 02/12/2018 - 11:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 0.5976" N, 119° 57' 12.348" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

1 to 2 inches of cold new snow had fallen in this area since yesterday. The new snow fell on a variety of old snow surfaces. In some areas where frozen crusts existed "dust on crust" surface conditions prevailed. Sheltered, untracked N aspects that previously held soft snow remained soft cold and unconsolidated. Some exposed near and above treeline N-NE aspects showed signs of light NE wind scouring. These NE winds did form some small isolated pockets of wind slabs that only measured 4 to 6 inches in depth and only extended downslope from the ridgelines 12 to 18 inches. 

Photo 1: Skier triggered cracking on a very small, isolated wind slab on a WNW aspect at 9700 ft. 

Photo 2: Light wind scouring on an exposed NE aspect. 

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Northeast
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Light snow throughout the day with light NE winds