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Observation: Silver Fork

Observation Date
1/8/2016
Observer Name
Tyler Falk
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver Fork
Location Name or Route
Silver Fork, Grizz, East Bowl to West Bowl to Emmas
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Colder temps than 24 hours ago in all canyon locations in my travels. Only noticed light wind in the afternoon on 10k ridgelines with little to none snow transport occuring at those locations. I am sure some snow was moving around on the more exposed ridgelines. It was still trying to snow on my drive down canyon at 530. (S1)
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

In upper lcc there was 12cm of new snow in the last 24 hrs at 9500. Storm totals in upper LCC around 28cm. With a slight density change in the storm snow.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Again not alot of red flags in your face but one large one (Structure) and a few that I sure were occuring in other locations around the Wasatch. (Recent Avalanches i.e. Stupid Chute, Wind Loading in exposed locations and a Moderate amount of new snow.)
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

The number one concern for tomorrow will likely be the storm slab which is around 30cm. With the amount of wind damaged terrain before this storm we should see a fair bit of these tomorrow.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

Same old story here. High consequence low probability. I figure there might be a possibility to see some some persistent slabs popping out from a large storm slab that steps down tomorrow. Likely outside the central Wasatch in a thin rocky place. Had to pry out ECT results on the facets today which were giving me failures 22cm up from the bottom of the pack on 2mm squares that appeared to be rounding at 9800' on a North aspect. HS there was 120cm. Other results showed Q2 failures just below the storm snow. Not ready to dismiss this problem yet.

Photo 1. Storm snow sluffing on steep rolover.

Photo 2. A few Rimed Stellar Crystals mixed in the precipitation.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate