Observation Date
2/27/2017
Observer Name
Evelyn
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Willows
Location Name or Route
Willows to Park City ridge line
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Heavy snowfall til around 1 pm, after which it become light. (S5 down to S1) Poor visability.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
16"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Deep powder once again, trail breaking worth a couple of desserts. Turns a bit slow on very low angle slopes, but 30 degree slopes just fine. Not much wind affect where I went.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Red Flags Comments
Rapid loading rates, in areas out of the wind, instability probably peaked mid day during the heaviest snowfall.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Once again, winds will be key for stability tomorrow. Wind speed spikes over the past 24 to 48 hours created some drifts, now buried. New drifts will be on a variety of aspects if winds shift directions as forecast. But like the last few days, the forecasted winds again seem they may mostly be an upper elevation issue, with lots of wind sheltered mid elevation slopes. Just have to wait and look at the wind anemometers in the morning.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Weakest layer seemed to be a mid storm snow layer of lower density snow. Very minor cracking in the new snow - not much of a slab in the wind sheltered areas. This should settle out rapidly. Also, the low density snow will be perfect for sluffing on steep slopes.
One other layer of note was the sun crust from yesterday under the the new storm snow. Weak snow below this crust, that seemed to be just low density snow from the past storm. But this layering would make me suspicious of steep wind drifted sunny slopes - that an avalanche could fail below the sun crust, a bit wider and deeper.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
