Observation Date
1/20/2017
Observer Name
Zimmerman Wall
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Snowbird periphery
Location Name or Route
Snowbird Periphery
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Increasing snowfall throughout the morning. Shortwave impulses brought in S2 snowfall for brief periods of time. Light to Moderate Southerly winds were swirling in the lower Mineral Basin and blowing around lots of snow.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Very light density snow was a composition of stellars, rimed stellars and needles.
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
No Red flags to speak of really, but the high rate of snowfall was creating small loose dry avalanches in steep terrain.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
New light density running on steeper slopes. Old snow surfaces ranged from semi supportable sun crust to buried NSF from the previous spell of high pressure. Expect most new avalanche to either run on this interface or within the new snow.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
The winds didn't seem to be a huge player today, but speeds are forecasted to be increasing with next storm and will be optimal for drifting.
Comments
Photos are from day in the field:
1. Spindrift on steep cliffs in Lower Mineral Basin
2. New snow on top of buried NSF, Q3 shears in hand pits along this interface on N facing
3. Old tracks getting covered as the day went on.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
