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Observation: Little Water

Observation Date
12/22/2020
Observer Name
CBrown
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North » Little Water
Location Name or Route
Mill D North, Little/Big Water
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Warm, calm morning gave way to cold wind afternoon. Front arrived right on schedule, 11:00 on the dot. Impressive black cloud swallowing the BCC/Millcreek ridgeline. Large graupel with moderate to high winds. Expected some sparks and thunder, but none observed. Temps dropped quickly in the afternoon.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Old snow surfaces took a beating with the warm temps yesterday. Did not observe much weak snow on te surface. HN 2-3", mixed in with graupel.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
No collapses today where traveled, but plenty of cracking. With the increasing winds late morning active loading of N-E slopes. Observed some of the weakest snow in the pack I've seen all year. Where the upper BCC/LCC has a P layer towards the ground, the Millcreek norths had weak larger grain facets pouring out with a slab from the 20201217/18 storm on top.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Poor structure is widespread on northerlies where traveled today.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
New wind slabs were actively forming during the day
Comments
Picture and video of the approaching frontal passage around 10:30.
Picture of large graupel falling 11:00-12:00
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates