Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation NEW - Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills On-Snow Courses Resources and Tutorials
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Observation: Thomas Fork

Observation Date
4/4/2023
Observer Name
W Ambler
Region
Salt Lake » Neffs » Thomas Fork
Location Name or Route
Thomas Fork
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Mostly light winds doing little to contribute to extra loading. The precip was doing more than enough. Averaging s2 but s5 for extended periods throughout the day.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2.5'
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow totals increased with elevation. Theres a lot of new snow in upper Thomas Fork. Bottomless.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
Evidence of wind loading from stronger winds last night. Widespread natural avalanching this morning and throughout the day. Lots of cracking.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Avalanches in the new snow were widespread and touchy. Stacked up messily, we saw slides happening 3 inches to a foot deep. All relatively small. Lots of subtle density changes in the storm. However we didn't ever note slides stepping all the way down to the bottom of the storm or even to yesterday's snow. I triggered a size (just barely) 2 with a ski cut that only broke ~6 inches down, 50' wide running far and fast, entraining lots of snow and colliding violently with trees towards the bottom of its path.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #2 Comments
Wind slabs from last night's strong winds are now gently tucked in under a blanket of low density new snow.
Comments
No relevant obs were captured with phone cameras today.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High
Coordinates