Observation: Weber Canyon

Observation Date
3/23/2016
Observer Name
Kikkert
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon » Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Mostly cloudy skies with filtered sunshine and patches of clearing throughout the day. Winds were mellowing throughout the day, but still a bit pesky on exposed ridgelines, blowing near 20. A few snow showers throughout the day, but just flurries with no accumulation.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
11"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

New snow totals ranged from 10" to around 14". Light density in some locations, but in most locations it had been slightly altered by the wind and was medium density.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Winds had a strong northerly component to them, and the most notable loading was on south facing and crossloading on east facing.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments

Despite the strong winds, wind slabs were more pockety than I thought they would be. Many places that I thought would be loaded were not, with just some thicker wind blown snow in place. That said, we did manage to ski cut two pockets out. One was east facing around 9,500'. Cut a slope that was crossloaded and released a slab approximately 1' deep, maybe 15-20 feet wide. It was soft and manageable (easy to ski out of), but did run around 200'. The second pocket was on an upper elevation south facing slope around 10,400'. A piece of cornice broke off and a slab up to 3' deep released, running only a very short distance unto a lower angle bench. See photos below.

My estimation of hazard today was overall moderate, but with pockets of considerable. Thinking that the pockety wind slabs will largely be settled out by Thursday, but would be leary of steep wind loaded terrain, especially anything with consequences.

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