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: Neffs

Observation Date
2/2/2017
Observer Name
T Diegel
Region
Salt Lake » Neffs
Location Name or Route
Neffs
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
seemed surprisingly stormy considering the forecast; maybe I didn't pay close enough attention to it....
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
3"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

pretty dang windy; seems like enough - even in relatively sheltered areas -to destroy the surface hoar that developed over the last week. The warm temps have probably helped that as well.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Wind blowing surprisingly hard and loading up lee aspects; little micro cornices were forming atop old bigger "real" cornices. Not an issue after just a coupla hours, but might load up lee sides with the winds forecasted to continue into the evening hours?
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

Did a coupla quick hand pits and got a Q2 shear about 2' down, but it took a fair bit of effort to get the slabs out; nothing like that fairly shocking video that Jake did yesterday on the PC ridgeline. That said, the hunka slab that I did pull out tumbled mostly intact for quite a ways when I tossed it down the slope, so it's got some integrity!

Comments

The skitchiness of the Aire-ea doesn't seem to apply to the lower tri-canyon area; more wind, higher temps there that destroyed that old hoar layer?

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