Breakable crusts, frozen snow surfaces, and continued propagation on the PWL on Jakes Peak

Location Name: 
Jakes Peak
Region: 
West Shore Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 03/23/2012 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 58' 8.4972" N, 120° 6' 59.2272" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

.5-4 inches of new wind blown snow existed above breakable crusts on the northerly aspects and frozen melt freeze crusts on the southerly aspects. On the most heavily wind-loaded near and above treeline N-NE aspects some very small (4ft wide 4-5 inches deep) wind slabs had formed and would break under the weight of a skier.

The persistent weak layer is still lurking 5 ft below the surface. Tests on this layer showed that it remains weak and that fractures can still propagate along this layer if it breaks (see video). The deep slab above this layer continues to gain strength and is making it very difficult for people on the surface to transmit enough force to the weak layer to break it. 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

PST failure on the deeply buried Persistent Weak Layer on Jakes Peak

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: