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Observation: Salt Lake

Observation Date
1/17/2017
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Mineral Basin/Mary Ellen Gulch
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
The ridgetop northerly Winds that were active and loading on Monday died down significantly on Tuesday. Early morning temperatures in the teens rose rapidly during the day and by 1500 hours SW and W aspects at upper elevations were experiencing intense solar radiation and ambiant temperatures in the mid 30's.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Southerly aspects with slope angles 25 degrees and greater became saturated at least 10 to 12 cm down. Wind affected and damaged terrain is now widespread on many northerly upper elevation exposed and open terrain. M/F Crusts can now be found on most slopes on the bottom half of the compass.

Mid and upper elevation northerly facing protected terrain is still housing dense soft old powder. The turning is getting a bit thicker and slower each day, yet it is still enjoyable and good riding.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Poor snowpack structure appears to be confined mostly to the weak surface snow conditions that are widespread on aspects on the upper half of the compass. SH and NSF's continue to grow, and the upper 12 cm of snow is very loose. As a result, sloughing on northerly facing slopes with angles 35 degrees and greater was easily triggered with slope cuts and sharp turns. Sloughs were entraining and running until the slopes transitioned to angles less than 30 degrees. The bed surface these Loose Dry Avalanches were running on was an obvious one finger/firm layer topped with decomposing graupel. Wet Loose activity continued today and was entraining on steep upper elevation southerly facing terrain in Mary Ellen. Minimal Wind Slab activity was able to be triggered with Explosive Control.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

See above, and this issue appears to be increasing daily.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

See above, and for the most part it appears that the majority of Loose Wet Avalanches have played out over the past 72 hours, yet todays significant activity confirms this is still a potential Problem to be addressed during daytime heating.

Danger today was mostly Low besides the two above cited Problems. And, it appears that conditions and the Avalanche Danger will remain similar tomorrow. Therefore there still appears to be an Isolated Moderate Danger on these two issues; and these issues are very manageable.

Besides these two issues/Problems, one may also find Isolated Wind Slab issues in extreme upper elevation terrain.

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