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Observation Date
4/28/2014
Observer Name
Joey Dempster
Region
Provo » Provo Canyon » Timpanogos » Primrose Cirque
Location Name or Route
Primrose Cirque - Timpanogos
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
About 5 inches of very light snow fell overnight above 7000 feet on Timp. The snow was not enough to produce powder skiing (or avalanches) but it did soften things up and the skiing was pleasant. It appeared that the winds stayed fairly calm overnight, at least down off the ridges, and I observed no new wind transport overnight or this morning.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
The new snow was very light, and did not receive any wind affect overnight. I saw no evidence of natural avalanches. I believe the low density snow was not enough to become a trigger on the sensitive wind slabs that I observed Sunday. The bad news is that it has covered up the wind slabs, making them harder to recognize. I did not venture into steep terrain that I thought my be windloaded today, as I felt it would be too risky, so unfortunately I can't comment on the existing instability and it's rate of change. I would expect that since it has remained below freezing all day above 8000 feet, and cloudy, that the wind slabs will still be potentially sensitive, but inevitably less so than Sunday. The vexing question is, of course, "how much less?" I can't answer that question, but I can say that it is important to ask the question still, and not just march up steep terrain because it's April. Until it warms up again, there is plenty of poorly bonded slab material from Sunday to make me very cautious.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
I did notice some small localized collapses today while breaking trail over obscured wind slab that I didn't notice on Sunday. Perhaps the slab is gaining strength enough to collapse, but the weak layer is not gaining strength at the same rate? That would argue for an increase in hazard over Sunday.
Avalanche Problem #1
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
The new snow is stable where it fell onto the melt/freeze crust. The main thing to watch out for now is the wind loading from Sunday. Unfortunately it is obscured by the new snow. Use caution in steep gullies and sub ridges that can collect wind deposited snow, even far down off the high ridges, as Sunday's wind deposited snow at all elevations. I expect it to get better steadily, but if you can't get around it to test it from the top, DO NOT walk up it.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate