Weak basal facets remain on Relay Peak.

Location Name: 
Relay Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 12/07/2014 - 11:20
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 47.718" N, 119° 56' 31.9344" W
See map: Google Maps
US



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

Snowpit tests in this area indicted that reactive basal facets are hard to trigger. This is making persistent slab avalanches less of an avalanche concern for today. However, once collapse is initiated fractures readily propagate along the top of this weak layer. While these facets have shown some rounding and sintering, they remain loose grain and low density. Sudden collapse CTs plus standard PSTs and 2mPSTs propagating to end with less than 50% cut length pose concern for future snowpack loading. This data indicates potential deep persistent slabs issues under heavy new snow loading. This is something to keep in mind if the large storm advertised for the second half of this week verifies.

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

20141207 Basal facets on Relay Pk, NV

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
More detailed information about the weather: 

Thin high level cloud cover in the morning, thickening during the early afternoon hours as forecast.