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Observation: Lambs Canyon

Observation Date
3/26/2023
Observer Name
Paradis
Region
Salt Lake » Parleys Canyon » Lambs Canyon
Location Name or Route
Lambs Canyon
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Today had moderate winds from the NW with about 4-5" of low density snow. Friday & Saturday had strong west winds with more dense snow. On Thursday winds were fairly strong from the SW with lower density. This created a bit of an interesting situation with strong over weak plus some low density snow to hide everything.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow for the past two days has been relatively dense due to wind affect. Today's very low density snow looked good but sort of masks activity from the prior days.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
It seems like about 2' fell from about Thursday to Saturday with wind from a few different directions. Wind easily filled back in skin tracks and made snow more dense than normal over the past couple days. Crossloading noted on Saturday through sub-canyons. Today's snow plus multiple different loading directions created sort of a complex snowpack that is not visually obvious.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments
In the snowpit below, several wind slabs were noted between lower density snow. In snowpit tests, this didn't propogate but the weather has been somewhat unusual. Typically these areas are relatively wind protected.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
7,600'
Slope Angle
10°
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates