Observation Date
1/19/2017
Observer Name
C Brown
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Moderate temps, about mid to low 20's around 10,000~10,500'. Light to moderate winds, trending towards light in the afternoon. Light snow, saw about 3~4" during the day around 10,000'.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
3"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Started to bury some of those unpleasant crusts, but not quite supportable yet. Would expect them to be supportable by tomorrow providing softer riding conditions. Nice riding conditions on the North and East aspects with a small re-set.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
The weak snow on the surface is getting buried by the new snow. The new snow and wind transport produced sensitive soft slabs in upper elevation north aspects on this weak snow. Ski cuts easily produced shallow soft slab avalanches from about 4"12" deep, up to about 50' across. These poped out right as you tocuhed them with a crack shooting out and producing very fast running slabs. These were running on small grained surface hoar, and NSF that has developed during the high pressure. The acceleration and speed and size of these could become troublesome if caught underneath or in the wrong terrian. If the winds keep up, these could grown into a thicker more problematic slab. The new snow was not sensitive on all other aspects observed.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments
The storm slab was very sensitive today on higher north facing terrain, and if caught unaware in the wrong terrain could be problematic.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
If the winds continue the wind slabs will be growing and would expect these to stiffen up and be fairly sensitive as they change from a soft storm slab to a harder wind slab.
Comments
Picture of a large cornice that has started to pull and calve off the ridge either during the storm last week, or the warming this week. These things are large and will be growing larger if the winds keep up. Next two pictures are of one of the smaller soft slab crowns. The debris was piling up in the bottom of this zone, and if caught below unaware could partially or even fully bury a person. (sorry, two pictures are stuck sideways)
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
