Observation Date
3/15/2020
Observer Name
Nauman, Grote, Howell
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Noriegas Backside
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Windy day with on and off clouds. Some periods of sun warmed things up. The air temperatures were also above freezing.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Most areas had a relatively hard crust underneath 1-3" of softer snow from the last storm. At lower elevations the snow was quite punchy due to the high temperatures. The snow is quite variable right now, but I was surprised by how much snow we still have after our dry Feb-early March.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
There is considerable wind loading on northerly aspects across the La Sals. The recent snow on top of very weak and mostly faceted snow in many areas has created an upside down, reactive snow pack. We had an ECTP 13 test fail on a very clear shear plane without much effort (see video). This failure was just on facets underneath the surface crust that formed during our dry period in Feb-early march. The snow was punchy below ~9000' due to the lack of hard freezes and warm day temps, but we did not see any signs of rapid warming in the snow like roller balls or pin wheels. There were just enough clouds today to keep the sun from really warming up the snow too much.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
The wind has created many new wind slabs and loaded our weak snowpack. The winds did not taper much today, and until they do, risks of wind slab avalanches will exist.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Many parts of the La Sals have very weak snowpack that is currently upside down with the last two storms and strong winds. The facets that make up much of the snowpack and some of the surface crusts were reactive in our snow pit today, and are likely to be concerns for a while.
Snow Profile
Aspect
West
Elevation
10,100'
Slope Angle
25°
Comments
Our ECT test that failed on facets underneath the surface crust that formed before our surprise 10" storm in early March (I think?). At first I though it was surface hoar due to the large somewhat elongated look of the crystals, but further investigation revealed they were under the crust. The snowpit was quite complicated...
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates
