Sluffing and Cracking on Silver Peak

Location Name: 
Silver Peak
Region: 
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 01/05/2016 - 11:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 13' 33.9456" N, 120° 14' 20.976" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

New snow fell on top of old loose snow (near surface facets) in this area today. In below treeline areas on Silver Peak, ski cuts on steep (>37 degrees) N-NE facing test slopes caused loose dry sluffs as the new snow slid down slope on top of the near surface facets. As more snow accumulated during the day the new snow started to take on a bit more slab-like properties and some small skier triggered shooting cracks up to 4-5 ft. long started to occur. These cracks also failed on the interface between the new snow and the near surface facets. 

Photo 1: Loose dry sluffs on a 39 degree N-NE facing test slope @ 7400 ft. 

Photo 2: Skier triggered shooting cracks on a N facing slope @7700 ft.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
South
Accumulation rate: 
Greater than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Light winds below treeline most of the day with some stronger gusts. New snow amounts of 6-8 inhces in the Silver Peak area as of noon. Between 10:30 and 12:00 3-4 inches of new snow fell.