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Observation: Little Cottonwood Canyon

Observation Date
11/10/2022
Observer Name
Greg Gagne
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Little Cottonwood Periphery
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Weather Comments
A few cms of very low density stellars fell late afternoon. Winds were calm at 10,500'
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
About 20 cms new snow overnight and today. HS is well over a meter above 9,500', with several 140-170 cms. Quite impressive for November 10th!
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
There were reports of reactive wind drifts today.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
I found a few isolated wind drifts and shallow, but sensitive, cornices along ridges. The few wind drifts I found were not reactive, but several observations we received today indicated these pockets of wind-drifted snow were sensitive. I am expecting they will be less sensitive on Friday.
Comments
Overall I am finding a deep and stable snowpack. I was using my probe to check snowpack depths and they were routinely over 1.5 meters, including on southerly aspects. We had no faceted layers in the snowpack prior to the blockbuster midweek storm and avalanche activity this week has involved new snow and fresh wind drifts.
The handful reports of wind loading and fresh wind drifts from Thursday is a reminder that avalanches involving pockets of wind-drifted snow remain possible along the upper-elevation ridge lines.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates