Wind slabs, facets, new snow, and more wind on Silver Peak

Location Name: 
Silver Peak
Region: 
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 12/21/2012 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 13' 23.7" N, 120° 14' 37.32" 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: 

Winds increased in this area this morning and snowfall stared around 11am. The current snowpack consists of a dense layer of snow on top of a weak layer of lighter snow with the rain crust/facet combination below that. Snowpit tests on both of these layers showed that fractures could occur on these weaknesses and once they break the resulting fracture can travel through the layer.

The snow surface above 7500 ft was a mix of wind scoured ice crusts, firm wind packed snow, and a few patches of softer snow.

Below 7000 ft. a rain crust exists on the snow surface and snow coverage remains patchy.

Snowpit: At 8000 ft on a wind loaded north aspect

Video: 2nd ECT from the snowpit.

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

20121221 Silver Peak ECTP-10 Q1 on wind slab.MOV

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: