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 Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Weather Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Class List UAC Class List Online Classes Resources and Tutorials Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills
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: Little Cottonwood Canyon

Observation Date
3/4/2013
Observer Name
Evelyn
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Little Cottonwood
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Winds stronger during the morning, then decreased to light by early afternoon. Temperatures remaing cool, except in the strong sun.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

Dense new snow, drifted around, mostly small graupel or heavily rimed stellars. Some pooling below cliffs and steep slopes.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
New snow activity only, with cracking and avalanches mostly in wind drifted terrain only. Warming was limited today, but added to snow sensitivity. I found it interesting that on some test slopes when the drifts failed, they failed with in the new snow, not on the old crust.
Comments

Between the sun and a 10 to 15 degree temperature jump forecast tomorrow, heating will happen fast and be the key issue tomorrow.

Wind drifts will be generally less sensitive, but the combination of the two - wind drifted slopes getting sun and heating - will be the mostly likely place to get a release tomorrow. East will be particularly sensitive early.