Buried Surface Hoar Found in Deep Creek

Location Name: 
Deep Creek
Region: 
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 01/11/2016 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 14' 50.4996" N, 120° 14' 50.3988" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Targeted 3 separate elevation bands in the Deep Creek drainage on north facing aspects to look for the 1/5 and 1/9 buried surface hoar layers.  At the attached SnowPilot location and at mid slope at 7600' both buried surface hoar layers were found and identified.  The 1/9 layer being just below the snow surface and the 1/5 layer down 35cms.  At both of these locations the 1/5 buried surface hoar layer did not show signs that propagation was likely through multiple snowpack tests.  At another location just below the ridge, near 8000', both buried layers were also found.  The 1/5 layer was found to be reactive to snowpack tests and showed that propagation was likely.  Consistent ECT's propagated with sudden collapse fracture character and clean shears.

No other signs of instability were noted in area.

Photo#1:  The buried 1/9 surface hoar protected just below the surface.

Photo#2:  Multiple tilt tests showed easy failure of the 1/9 SH layer.  With no slab on top the upper snow just fell apart.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: