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Observation: Park City area mountians

Observation Date
2/11/2017
Observer Name
B
Location Name or Route
Colony Area
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Calm to light winds in the mid elevation protected areas. Temperatures appeared to spike in the low 30's and it came very close to green housing due to the cloud cover and intermittent fog, yet the snow surface remained cold and dry above 8400. Light snowfall, S1, continued until 1030 and then ceased.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Riding was very good in the new snow with a spongy/buried damp interface. The right side up storm allowed for the damp/wet old snow surface to not be an issue. All aspects retained cold dry surface snow, and with the cold overnight lows forecast for Saturday night, conditions should actually improve.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Upper elevation/ridgeline wind aided slab development appeared to allow for soft slab avalanches to be an issue today. The grauple reported by other parties was observed in snow pits at 8800 feet. This layer was one cm above the upper and most recent rain crust, and CTM scores were obtained. Of note, NSF's appeared to be somewhat reactive below the lower of the two recent distinctive rain crusts. There appeared to be a break between these rain events that allowed/had 1.5 cm of snow to be sandwiched between these rain crusts. Finally at 70 cm down there was a thin layer of flattened SH that was nonreactive, and an ECTX was observed at this layer.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Widespread Loose Wet activity was observed below 7500 feet. Sundays forecast for almost 40 degrees at 9000 feet will most likely allow this Danger to increase and become more widespread at higher elevations on all aspects receiving direct sun shine.

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

Even at 1530 shears above the upper rain crust in mixed forms and grauple were reactive. Sluffing reported by White was possible in this area as well. Most likely this sensitivity will continue to settle out overnight.

With the rising temperatures and the associated Wet Loose Avalanche potential, the Danger Rating for Sunday may be Considerable.

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