Small Natural Wind Slab Avalanche on Silver Peak

Location Name: Silver Peak Region: Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area Observation Date & Time: Monday, December 14, 2020 - 02:00
Location: 39.223729, -120.246584 See map: CalTopo	Is this an Avalanche Observation?: Yes Conditions Alerts: Avalanche Activity Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing) Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)›Collapsing / whumpfing noises Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)›Shooting Cracks Persistent Problem Recent Loading Recent Loading›Blowing Snow Recent Loading›More Than a Foot of New Snow Terrain Alerts: Slopes Steeper than 30 degrees Obvious Slide Path Terrain Matches the Advisory

Location Name:

Silver Peak

Region:

Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area

Observation Date & Time:

Monday, December 14, 2020 - 02:00

Location:

39.223729, -120.246584

See map: CalTopo

Is this an Avalanche Observation?:

Yes

Conditions Alerts:

Avalanche Activity
Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)
Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)›Collapsing / whumpfing noises
Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)›Shooting Cracks
Persistent Problem
Recent Loading
Recent Loading›Blowing Snow
Recent Loading›More Than a Foot of New Snow

Terrain Alerts:

Slopes Steeper than 30 degrees

Obvious Slide Path

Terrain Matches the Advisory

Observation made by: Forecaster

Tabs

Observation

Description of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions:

A cornice collapse and small wind slab avalanche was observed off of Silver Peak on a NE aspect in near treeline terrain at 8100'. This cornice collapse and wind slab avalanche was thought to have been naturally triggered sometime during the storm in the early morning hours and was covered up by additional storm snow and wind blown snow. The avalanche was approximately 100' wide by up to 50' long.

Cornice collapse and wind slab avalanche

Debris and bed surface covered by additional storm snow and wind blown snow

Snowpack Details

Persistent Weak Layers:

Buried

Terrain Details

Terrain: elevations:

Near Treeline

Below Treeline

Terrain: aspects:

Avalanche Details

Avalanche Type:

Wind Slab

Failure Plane/Weak Layer:

Storm Snow

Trigger

Trigger:

Natural

Terrain

Start Zone Slope Angle:

35degrees

Aspect:

Northeast

Starting Elevation:

near-treeline

Weather Details

Elevation of Observation:

6000-7000 ft.

7000 - 8000 ft.

8000 - 9000 ft.

Blowing Snow:

Wind Direction:

Northeast

Wind Speed:

Light

Sky Cover:

Broken - Mostly Cloudy - more than 4/8 and less than 8/8

Precipitation:

None

Air temperature:

Below Freezing

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Small Natural Wind Slab Avalanche on Silver Peak

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Small Natural Wind Slab Avalanche on Silver Peak

Conditions Alerts:

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