Developing wind slabs on Incline Lake Peak.

We toured Incline Lake Peak today monitoring wind slab development and the general progression of the current storm.

Upon arrival in the area about 9:45 am, snow level was around 7,000', snowfall rates were around 1/2 inch/hr with just over 1 inch of new snow in the area. Snowfall rates increased during the morning hours to 1-1.5 inchs/hr. By midday new snow amounts were around 3 inches.

Blowing snow was occurring on the ridgetops with fragile cornices building quickly. At midday, wind slabs along the northern summit ridge were 6 inches thick and starting to show limited amounts of skier triggered cracking (photos). All signs indicated that stability in near treeline and above treeline areas was decreasing as the day progressed.

With the still limited amounts of new snow, a storm slab problem had yet to develop in wind protected areas below treeline prior to our departure from the area around 1:30 pm. With the continued snowfall rates of 1 inch per hour or more, this seemed likely to change as the afternoon and evening progressed.