Observation: Upper Weber Canyon

Observation Date
2/1/2016
Observer Name
Kikkert
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Just a couple quick notes with no photos, the weather was too anoying to get the camera out. Big news was the east and northeasterly winds. By around 10-11 am speeds on exposed mid-elevation ridges (~9,400') were sustained near 40 with gusts to 50. Not sure how much worse they were on upper elevation ridges, because we retreated to lower elevations, but would guess gusts of at least 60. Winds were swirling a bit below 9,400 as well, but much better behaved.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Characteristics Comments

Looked like about 4" overnight, snow was light density before the winds, but the winds whipped it up everywhere and it was a little upside down, but still skiing well in sheltered areas.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments

Like mentioned previously, once the winds began howling in earnest, we stayed low for the rest of the day. However, even below 9,400' there were shallow 2-4" wind slabs that would crack out around your skis. As a result, we stayed in lower angle terrain. However, you could get the shallow slabs moving on any steeper rolls such as road cuts, etc.

I would guess there was a natural cycle at the upper elevations; however, its possible that the winds were so strong that the snow was just stripped and blown west to Park City without too much loading. Will find out in the morning.

Tough to say what the hazard was, considerable in most places, but could have reached high at upper elevations, tough to say given the inability to see anything.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable