Observation: 10420

Observation Date
12/21/2015
Observer Name
Evelyn
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » 10420
Location Name or Route
10,420 via west ridge from Guardsman road
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Moderate winds with strong gusts. Precipitation increasing through out the day. Brief, almost white out conditions during stronger gusts.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

New snow was getting progressively more rimed as the afternoon went on. Strong winds were drifting the snow into denser slabs. Still mostly fist hardness early afternoon, but becoming much more sensitive. Winds were drifting snow down in the mid elevations as well as the upper elevations.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
It was all there today, and becoming more intense as the snow rates and winds increased.
Comments

It's getting spooky and dangerous out there, with all the signs of instability. There are multiple layers to trigger avalanches on - sensitive new wind drifts, interfaces within the new storm snow, slick hard crusts on south and westerly facing slopes making good bed surfaces, with weak facets below, weaknesses around a rime crust, and facets near the ground. Any slide triggered in the upper layers on the snow pack could step down to the ground, especially on northwest through easterly facings slopes.

The ground facets are so widely distributed, that there is a potential for avalanches to break out widely, connecting across bowls, gullies and small ridges. Also, slides could pull up onto "flat" or low angle ridge lines as the slabs get stronger - the weak layer is already extends across the tops of the ridges. Remote triggers also likely.

Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High