Observation Date
4/2/2013
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Gold Hill Basin
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Great little storm for the Uintas, with a good 12" at the north slope parking lot and upwards of a foot or more in the Gold Hill area. Mostly cloudy and light snow this morning and some partial clearing this afternoon.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Fairly dense snow and a little stiff riding conditions today. By mid-morning the snow was already taking on some heat in the lower elevations and higher up there was a brief window where the riding and turning was pretty decent, before the heat came on and turned conditions damp and gloppy.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Not much in the way of natural activity in Gold Hill, but the new snow was drifting from northeast winds for a few hours this morning. Some minor cracking within the new snow and a few 12-18" soft slabs along the ridgelines. The heat was the big game changer today with just a brief time where the snow conditions were powder before even brief periods of sun changed the conditions.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Would anticipate the new snow will react to some direct sun tomorrow and turn the snow more into a slab.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
The wet activity should increase with some day time heating as this new snow sees some direct sun for the first time.
Comments
This morning it was a return to winter conditions with a good foot of new snow in the parking lot. Second photo is some minor new snow sluffing on steeper terrain, this could be an issue if a person was in continous steep terrain or a terrain trap like a gulley.
