Observation: Uintas

Observation Date
2/5/2016
Observer Name
jg
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Light
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

What little sun there was affected low elevation snow and snow facing the south half of the compass.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Although the sun didn't come out much, rapid warming is something to watch for after a storm. Poorest structure was on solar aspects where the last series of storms fell on a melt freeze crust (east-south aspects where we were). The crust was capped by fine grain facets.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Comments

Incredible riding conditions today, some of the best of the season. Travel was on all aspects except for west. Biggest worry was on slopes with a crust, south thru east where we were. The crust was of varying thicknesses, from very hard and supportable to crumbly and friable. The crusts were capped by fine grain facets in all cases. The newest storm snow is now hiding all the wind affect from Monday's erratic winds.

If you're traveling in steep, wind affected terrain I would say there is a considerable avalanche danger. Solar affect will be something to watch for tomorrow.

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