Observation: Whitney Basin

Observation Date

2/28/2014

Observer Name

Ted Scroggin

Region

Uintas » Bear River Ranger District » Whitney Basin

Location Name or Route

Whitney Basin-Moffit Peak,Double Hill,

Weather

Sky

Broken

Precipitation

Moderate Snowfall

Wind Direction

Southwest

Wind Speed

Strong

Weather Comments

Nice start to the day with 8" new snow at the trailhead and sunshine. In the Whitney Basin, about 12" new snow and lots of wind. Clouds rolled in around 1pm with light to moderate snowfall.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

12"

New Snow Density

Medium

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Wind Crust

Damp

Snow Characteristics Comments

A nice storm for the area with about a foot of new medium density snow. The Uintas are really filling-in and the riding and turning conditions have greatly improved. Today's snow was a little on the heavy side and with the strong winds conditions were somewhat dense like.

Red Flags

Wind Loading

Cracking

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

The winds were the big item today with very sensitive fresh wind slabs even into some of the lower terrain. Cracking with the storm snow was observed and did see some new snow avalanches that happened during last nights storm on steep north facing slopes.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Persistent Weak Layer

Trend

Increasing Danger

Problem #1 Comments

I observed very sensitive wind slabs along the ridge lines today, these were up to a couple of feet deep.

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

Persistent Weak Layer

Trend

Increasing Danger

Problem #2 Comments

Not sure if this first round of wind and snow was enough to get the deep slab active, but with the forecasted heavy dense snow and strong winds things will likely change.

Comments

Sensitive wind slabs today, it did not take much to get this wind loaded slope to avalanche. One little step on a safe corner of the slope and the soft slab released. The strong winds continued to load north through east facing slopes.

Not sure if yesterday's wind and snow was enough to activate the deep buried weak faceted snow, but with more wind and heavy dense snow, this could all change. I observed just a few new snow avalanches that have already started to get filled-in. These were mainly on north facing slopes in the higher terrain.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Considerable

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

High

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