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Observation: Cutler Ridge

Observation Date
2/23/2013
Observer Name
Bill Brandt
Region
Ogden
Location Name or Route
Cutler Ridge
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Calm until 1:30 pm then wind picked up moving large amounts of snow.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Warm early then temp dropped 10 degrees. Just guessing snow depth.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
Collapses remotely triggered steeper areas.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
Wind transporting large amounts of snow by 4 pm. Cracking and collapsing on slopes less than 30 degrees, slabs were moving but not running.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
New snow old snow interface was weak, but we were able to ski steeper slopes in wind protected areas with lots of anchors.
Comments
Once wind and snow settles down expect snow to stabilize fairly quick.