Observation Date
12/2/2013
Observer Name
Weed
Region
Logan » Logan River » Tony Grove » Pinball Alley
Location Name or Route
Loop through terrain west of Tony Grove Lake
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Snowfall intensifying in the mid afternoon. Strong and fairly sustained winds on the ridges.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
A big improvement in surface snow conditions with 2 inches of fresh snow and southwest winds smoothing out the wind and sun damaged surface from the weekend. The old snow is in bad shape though. The shallow snow cover, subjected to a strong temperature gradient, has become very weak , structureless and faceted, and in many places, even with skis on, you sink through sugary crystals all the way down to the ground.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
We triggered a locallized audible collapse or whumpf on a drifted low angle slope at around 9000'. Very weak snow in many slopes, only lacking a slab.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
Shallow wind slab releases are possible in steep terrain. Wind slabs are building up on widespread very weak, faceted or sugary old snow.
Comments
Shallow wind slabs formed overnight in and around terrain features. Drifting snow is now capping very weak faceted snow formed during the Thanksgiving high pressure system.
Just went out to check the snow surface before the storm. Here's a look at the current coverage on some of the northeast and north facing slopes above Tony Grove Lake.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
