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Observation: Mill Creek Canyon

Observation Date
2/18/2023
Observer Name
Gagne
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon
Location Name or Route
Thaynes Canyon
Weather
Sky
Clear
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Comments
Quick observation commenting on the existing snow surface ahead of what will hopefully be a stormy week. The 10-15 cms of snow that fell on Monday into Tuesday morning and wasn't wind affected has weakened substantially, and is now small to medium-grained facets on mid and upper-elevation aspects facing northwest, north, and northeast. On steeper aspects, a ski cut could easily get the surface snow to sluff, indicating how weak the existing snow surface is. On some slopes that have old wind slabs from Wednesday's strong wind event, the surface of the slab has also weakened, leaving a 5-10 mm layer of facets on top of the hard wind slabs.
I doubt the light snowfall overnight and into Sunday morning will be enough to affect the existing weak snow at the surface, and with the heavier snowfall arriving on Tuesday initially coming in warm and windy, it may help destroy weak layers at the surface. Additionally, if snowfall amounts from the midweek storm come in as currently forecast (2-3' of snow with 2-3" of water), there will likely be plenty of avalanche activity within the storm snow.
For now, I am keeping in mind that wind-sheltered terrain on aspects facing NW/N/NE has widespread weak snow at the surface that may become buried by additional snowfall.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates