Wind and Storm Snow on Incline Lake Peak

Location Name: 
Incline Lake Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 04/07/2017 - 13:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 17' 46.1544" N, 119° 56' 21.4404" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
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: 

About 15 to 18 inches of dense, supportable, new snow existed above a rain crust on Incline Lake Peak today. The storm snow had some minor density changes in it and was wind affected in many locations. Ski penetration only amounted to about 2 to 3 inches despite the depth of the new snow. In more sheltered below treeline ski cuts on test slopes did not trigger any cracking or storm slab failures, but extended column tests did yield unstable results at the base of the storm snow just below the rain crust. These results indicated that if this interface breaks the resulting fracture could travel along that interface (ECTP 23 and ECTP 24). In near and above treeline terrain stiff and stubborn wind slabs did exist. Repeated jumping on these wind slabs did result in some small wind slab failures and shooting cracks. No natural avalanche activity was observed. 

Photo: Stubborn wind slab triggered by repeated jumping on this NE facing test slope near the summit of Incline Lake Peak

Video: ECTP in below treeline terrain on a N facing slope. 

Snowpack photos: 
Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

ECTP on Incline Lake Peak - Mt. Rose Backcountry

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Light snowfall and strong winds throughout the day. About 2 inches of new snow accumulation between 10:30 am and 2 pm.