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Observation: Big Cottonwood Canyon

Observation Date
2/19/2021
Observer Name
CBrown
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon
Location Name or Route
BCC
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Weather Comments
Light rain and rime driving up the canyon this morning. Light rain at 07:00 at spruces TH. Thin skiable 1-2mm PPrm crust formed in open areas up to 9,700 (did not go higher than this today). Some gusty winds in the protected trees of Green's in the AM. Light to mod winds from the west on the ridgeline. Period of S2-S5 for about an hour around 11:00
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Rain-Rime Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Damp snow down around 7,500' from light morning rain. Thin rime crust everywhere except for denser trees. Not affecting the skiing. Heavy snow. Felt like the Cascades out there today.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Still feeling FC on ground in many places traveled today from NW-E-SE from 7,300'-9,700'. Did a quick ECT at 8,300' NW, HS 115, 10cm of FC ECTX. No collapses noted. Cracking and wind slab formation and reactivity along NW ridge between 9,700'-9,200'. No moving snow on short pitches up to 34*. Went from CO to WA in a week.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Giving this a little time to see what happens with the new load. Don't trust it yet. Looks like a benign week of WX to investigate ax activity and the PWL.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Lots of snow out there. Seems as though lower and mid elevation has been shrink wrapped by rain, rime and temps (limited AST low/mid), assume there is still pleanty of snow to move around up higher or with high enough winds.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates