Observations from Silver Peak

Limited evidence of instability in this area today with small wind slabs in the most heavily wind loaded areas. Remnants of basal facets had been destroyed by rain prior to 30 to 45 cm on new snowfall. Wind speeds during the storm appeared to have been light to moderate in speed in this area following cold front passage and the change from rain to snow below 8,000' as well as during the majority of snow deposition in this area last night. Wind slabs were 10 to 20 cm thick at most with lower density storm snow below. Signs of instability in the form of skier triggered cracking or unstable snowpit tests results were very difficult/nonexistent in wind protected or moderately wind affected areas. Winds were wrapping around the peak from the NW an lightly scouring N aspects near treeline. Where ongoing wind loading was occurring along the N ridge, a small pocket of 10 to 20 cm thick wind slabs was intentionally triggered by cornice collapse.

Photo 1: Light wind scouring and reverse cornice formation on E ridge.

Photo 2: Wind transport over N ridge.

Photo 3: Intentionally triggered small wind slab pocket below small cornice on N ridge (NE aspect, just above treeline).

Photo 4: Settlement cracks such as this one appeared around 10 am and became more prevalent during the early afternoon hours.

Photo 5: Tiny natural storm slab on steep E-SE aspect around 7,600'. It appeared to have failed late in the storm.