Observation: Weber Canyon

Observation Date
12/18/2013
Observer Name
jg
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon » Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Weber Canyon
Weather
Weather Comments
Mild temps. Increasing cloud cover through the day eventually becoming overcast. SW winds picked up by the end of the day but there was really not much snow to be transported.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
10,200'
Slope Angle
30°
Comments

Traveled from 7400'-10,200', all aspects, slope angles to 35°.

Same ole story, nothing new to report. Weakening snow surface with mid and lower elevation slopes having more developed surface hoar. Upper elevation slopes faceting but grains were much smaller than mid and lower elevation facets. We did experience isolated cracking and collapsing.

South aspects melted off quite a bit over this last week.

ECT tests failed on the same problematic layers but we did not get propagation across the column.

Future instability will depend on new storm totals and wind, with the north half of the compass being the aspects to watch.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable