Weakness remaining in the storm snow on Silver Peak

Location Name: 
Silver Peak
Region: 
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 01/23/2012 - 13:40
Location Map: 
United States
39° 13' 23.5956" N, 120° 14' 35.7" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Above 7000 ft in most places near Silver Peak today, about 3 ft of heavy new snow existed on top of a thick rain crust. This rain crust continues to refreeze. Within the new snow, at least two areas of upside down layering (heavier snow on top of lighter snow) exist. One of these density inversion resides about 30 cm down from the top of the new snow, and one remains near the base of the new snow. Snowpit tests indicated that each of these density inversions can still break but that fractures traveling very far along these weaknesses are becoming less likely. Ski cuts on N-NE facing 35-38 degree test slopes between 7000 ft and 8000 ft showed similar results. Small (up to 3 ft) shooting cracks that broke on both of the density inversions occurred on some of these test slopes and nothing on others. One of these test slopes did produce a small (1 ft deep 6 ft wide) failure (see attached photo).  This failure occurred on the upper density inversion.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
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: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: