Small wind slabs on Incline Lake Peak

Location Name: 
Incline Lake Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 17' 48.2856" N, 119° 56' 19.2768" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

4-6 inches of low density snow existed on top of a supportable rain crust up to 9600 ft. on all aspects in this area today. The new snow lacks any cohesion or slab qualities on sheltered slopes. Another skier reported triggering a small ski width wide sluff involving this light snow on a steep NE facing slope near 9400 ft. Near and above treeline the north wind had transported enough of this light snow to the S-SE aspects to for small wind slabs to form on these aspects. These wind slabs would crack in response to the weight of a skier, but they did not extend very far down slope. The largest of these wind slabs extended about 15 ft away from the ridgeline. Near the ridgeline it measured about 18 inches thick but the thickness decreased to less than 6 inches by about 3 ft. away from the ridgeline. Most of these wind slabs dissipated within 4 ft.

Photo 1: The largest of the wind slabs on the S aspects.

Photo 2: A more typical wind slab on the S aspects. By the end of the cracks about 10 ft. away, it is only 1-2 inches deep.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
North
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Very light snow flurries occurred through out the day.