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Observation: Central Bear River Range

Observation Date
2/12/2014
Observer Name
D. Tidhar
Region
Logan » Central Bear River Range
Location Name or Route
Bear River Mountains
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
If I were to describe every type of precipitation I saw today I would be here all day. Suffice it to say the early part of this storm included everything from very nice low density snow - yesterday as well as today - to groupel, sleet and rain. I'm sorry to report that I was rained at above 8000', albeit briefly. Some riming was occurring during wettest periods of the day, mainly above 7000'. Low elevation snowpack below around 6500' was being heavily saturated by sleet and rain as I descended around 3pm today. Wind was variable and was strongest from SW and NW. Some strong gusts were associated with the front coming in today.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Rain-Rime Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Avalanches from last weekend were observed from very low elevations (5500') to high elevations (>8000') on multiple if not all aspects. Visibility has been poor above around 8000' for the past two days so it was not really possible to see starting zones for the bigger slide paths I saw evidence of recent avalanche activity in. I have not seen any fresh slides from 2/11 or 2/12, but that's possibly an artifact of conservative terrain choices and poor visibility; all recent slides have a few to several inches of snow over their paths and debris piles. All of the slides I have seen up close have been associated with terrain traps and all of these have been below around 7500'. None of these slides appeared to have ripped clear to the ground and the bed surfaces were consistently a combination of rime crust (above the basal facets) and recent storm snow.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Today wind slabs may have been forming on SE and NW aspects.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
This afternoon this was a danger below 6500' on all aspects. Should add additional avalanche problems of a) persistent slab and b) new snow.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High