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Observation: Snowbasin

Observation Date
2/20/2017
Observer Name
kory
Region
Ogden » Snowbasin
Location Name or Route
Snowbasin
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Rain
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
More Wind in Ogden Mountains. Very light snow above 7,000.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Dry snow above 8500 ft. I was surprised at how much snow had blown around last night and today. I was expecting it to be much less due to the density of yesterdays snow.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Rapid Warming
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

I was very surprised by the wind slabs today. Warmer temps and ramping up of winds over night could make conditions interesting tomorrow.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

I am going with wet loose for the second problem becuase of how warm it is supposed to get tonight. Lots of roller balls and wet loose in hells visible today.

Comments

I did see another fresh storm slab in the toilet bowl today. Sorry about the poor photo it was taken from the parking lot. This was from sometime yesterday. Older crown now. Hand pits on upper elevation sheltered areas showed the new snow bonding well to the old snow surface. I would be interested to see if any of the old weak surface snow was preserved in high N-NE terrain. Yesterdays reports of unintentionally triggered storm slabs on NE aspects have me wondering if it could become a persistent issue with more snow later this week.

Called today considerable just on the wind slabs that were produced by the ski patrol in upper elevation areas. I was unable to get that high due to face damaging winds.

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