Observation Date
1/13/2020
Observer Name
jg
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Hoyt Peak Environs
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Light snow and mostly cloudy until around 3:30 when the sun started poking out. About an inch of snow while I was out. Southwest winds were moving snow at all elevations, crossroading mid elevation slopes and loading starting zones off the ridge lines. Temps in the mid teens. Felt cold with the wind and clouds.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
The denser snow that fell last night was not bonding well with the lighter density snow that fell on Sunday. In steep terrain, especially if it was windloaded, it was easy to get new snow sluffs to run fast and entrain a fair amount of loose snow. If you weren't paying attention there was enough snow to possibly kick your board or skies out from under you.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
The two red flags for me today were the windloading that was going on and just the shear amount of new snow we've had over the last few days.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Moderate to strong winds were moving copious amount of soft snow today and wind slabs were sensitive, even in the semi protected areas I was traveling. Wind was affecting snow at all elevations, crossloading terrain features and loading starting zones. You'll want to be watching for these tomorrow.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
9,100'
Slope Angle
30°
Comments
I still haven't been able to get propagation in ECT's but there are several persistent weak layers in the snowpack that have potential to fail with enough load. Today, I was feeling like the biggest danger was in the new snow but the possibility of triggering something deeper is still a concern, especially in windloaded terrain or in areas with a thinner snowpack.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
