Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Weather Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Class List UAC Class List Online Classes Resources and Tutorials Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Observation: DB Bowl Area

Observation Date
2/15/2016
Observer Name
Nick
Region
Logan » Logan Dry Canyon » DB Bowl Area
Location Name or Route
DB Bowl
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Rain
Weather Comments
Looked like it was clearing up in the valley, but as we got higher we got socked in and encountered heavy misting (lots of rime on the trees up high).
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Rain-Rime Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Seemed like we had 6-8" of new snow, then some kind of freeze cycle that created a 1/4" thick water-ice layer (very weird), then 2" more of heavy snow on top of that. Interesting skiing, but supportive enough that the crust wasn't cutting up our shins, at least.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Very wet snow down low (<7200'). To the point where it was hard to go downhill.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Problem #1 Comments
At lower elevations, the snowpack seemed to be losing any structure. Even at 7000' on a north aspect where it's decently deep, it's become so warm and saturated that you can stab your pole in all the way with ease.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
8,700'
Slope Angle
25°
Comments
~6-10" of new snow with a really weird ice-crust about 2" down. There was a slight density change towards the bottom of the new snow that broke, but wasn't really concerning. The second thing that broke (CT16) was where the faceted couple inches and surface hoar were from last week that got buried, but it wasn't a clean shear and generally felt like it had consolidated quite well with the warm snowfall on top of it. Below that, everything was really well consolidated down through what must've been the early December facets which have clearly compressed a lot.
Never tried this test before, but it really helps you visualize density changes and layers. Also particularly valuable in situations like the one we're in right now where a huge amount of liquid has been added to the snowpack through rain, and even more water is coursing around thanks to melting. We didn't see any substantial pooling until down near the December facets, so at least on north aspects, I'm not particularly concerned about water weight overloading a weak layer. Things could be different on all other aspects where there's more of a melt-freeze crust from the high pressure cycle. Total snow depth was a little variable, but generally lower than I expected in this area -- 165cm.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates