Potentially problematic surface hoar and near surface facets on Silver Peak.

Location Name: 
Silver Peak
Region: 
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 02/17/2013 - 11:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 13' 27.336" N, 120° 14' 27.852" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

A mix of cold snow not affected by melt freeze on northerly aspects and well established melt-freeze conditions on southerly aspects was observed in this area today. Melt-freeze snow surface conditions on northerly aspects were limited to locations below 7,400' in this general area.

On wind sheltered NW-N-NE aspects there is patchy surface hoar in large open areas below treeline. Below this is a weak layer of near surface facets (formed from the Feb 7-8 storm snow) sitting on a potential bed surface of smooth rain crust from Jan 24-26 rain event. This very top portion of the snowpack may not support new snow loading in the coming days.

Fracture propagation tests on all near crust facet (NCF) layers in the top 1 foot of the snowpack indicate that propagation along these NCF layers is unlikely. Below these crusts and facet layers, stable rounded snow layers exist.

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

20130217 Silver Pk

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: