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Observation: Park City Ridgeline

Observation Date
2/3/2019
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline
Location Name or Route
Guardsman to PC Ridgeline
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Early morning Strong southerly winds appeared to back off in the afternoon on the PC Ridgeline. Wind blown and or transport was sustained in at least the Moderate category. Temperatures dropped throughout the day. Skies remained obscured throughout the day with a very few brief periods overcast with partial visibility. S 1 snowfall with daytime accumulations of 8 cm.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Widespread wind scouring and sastrugi in the upper elevation exposed terrain. The first 8 cm of new snow came in dense and very wet, and the subsequent layers consisted of grauple and mixed forms. Riding was fun, surfy and creamy with ski penetration limited to the upper 10 to 15 cm. The best riding was out of the wind zones and below 9500.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Poor snowpack structure validated in multiple hasty pits as well as an ECTP 11 at 8900 feet on a north facing slope with failure noted in all locations as buried SH. All sites were similar in how they were in protected terrain. Along with this, there appeared to be NCF issues as indicated by sudden results from a failure in facets located below a thin M/F crust on a westerly aspect at 8600. Cracking was observed in isolated upper wind loaded terrain. Wind loading was observed mostly in the upper elevations on exposed ridge lines and connected terrain. Of note, bonding to the old snow/new snow interface was good with the first 8 cm of the event being very dense and was created with substantial winds and warm temperatures.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Poor visibility limited the opportunity to view if there were any wind loaded naturals. Despite this, it was very likely that there were some avalanches on steep N through E facing terrain in the upper elevations. Forecast for increasing winds overnight along with additional snowfall most likely with escalate this issue.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Reports of SH avalanches in the area validate the potential for PWL problems. Along with this, other buried PWL's may be considered suspect, and these include the January 5th, and possibly mid-December as well basal facets in outlier areas. Additional loading from wind and new snow most likely will increase the potential for this problem.
The danger today appeared to Considerable in upper elevation wind loaded terrain with mid elevation terrain Moderate in very steep terrain due to Loose Dry and small Storm Slabs.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High