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Observation: Brighton Perimeter

Observation Date
12/16/2018
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter
Location Name or Route
Brighton Perimeter
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Clear skies with temperatures at least 5 degrees warmer today, and unseasonably temperate. Moderate WSW winds confined to the upper elevation ridge lines with sporadic wind blown and or transport observed mostly on easterly aspects.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Extremely variable conditions observed with extensive wind damage, sculpting and sastrugi in the mid and upper elevations. Riding was still good on old settled dense powder in sheltered areas. Melt freeze crusts continue to develop and grow in size on SE, S and SW aspects with slope angles > 20 degrees, and damp conditions exist for brief periods as the low angle sun makes it's way around the compass.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Avalanches reported in the past 24 hours prompt the need to not rule out potential for isolated reactive persistent weak layer activity. Many hasty pits in upper BCC indicate the structure improving, yet one pit on a slope with a 32 degree incline, NNW aspect at 9850 yielded an ECTP16 at the top of a 28 cm thick layer of DH.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Despite minimal activity in the recent past, the poor snowpack structure referred to above appears to indicate there is still isolated potential for a low probability/high consequence slide into the October facets.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
The winds appeared to have died down a bit in the late morning to early afternoon hours, and this issue may ramp back up with the forecast for increasing winds on Monday and Tuesday.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate