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Observation: Cardiff Fork

Observation Date
1/4/2021
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Fork
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Clear in the am, clouding up in the afternoon, increasing winds throughout the day from the SW moving plenty of loose snow and creating wind drifts on Cardiac Ridge, Cardiac Bowl and LSB
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
There was about 2 inches of new snow, medium density with graupel mixed in. The due S got damp in the afternoon.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Comments
Walked up from the BCC side to upper Cardiff, Cardiac area. The wind was moving snow up high in the am and then moved down lower in the drainage as the day went on. I was still experiencing cracking and collapsing in untouched terrain mostly on NE and N. The wind was moving quite a bit of snow in the upper basin, loading the N and crossloading the E-NE. I think with the wind loading and maybe some new snow in the forecast the hazard will increase. The snow pack is crap right now, not much of a slab but loose facets and decomposing crust, doesn't make for a solid building block. The only question is how much weight will it hold and will it avalanche naturally or need a trigger to get it moving.
photos: wind, and cracking
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable