Observation Date
2/27/2017
Observer Name
C Brown
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Moderate snowfall through the day with periods of heavy snowfall. No sun and limited visability. During most of the day light winds from the WNW, with a slight increase in the afternoon approaching moderate NW below about 10,200'. Cool temps keep the snow in great shape.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

About 6-8" of new snow observed in the morning between about 8,500'-10,000, with more during the day. About an additional ~8-10" during the day. Seemed to be close to 14" new snow down at 7,500' between 0900 and 1600. Light dry Utah powder at mid and lower elevations with the cool temps, above 10,000' open areas got a touch of wind and was slabbing up the snow a little more. Snow was slightly denser at the higher elevations observed today. Bottomless waist plus deep skiing on ENE aspects with plenty of full immersion faceshots.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
Observed a few red flags today. The high snowfall rates were creating some sensitive small pockets of storm slabs on slopes >35*. Saw some small slow moving soft storm slabs through the day with some shooting cracks on lower angle slopes closer to the 10k' ridgelines. Sensitive corni as well.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

With the amount of new snow and the high snowfall rates through the day there were some small pockets of storm slabs, but were slow moving when triggered and mostly smaller pockets on slopes >35* approaching 40* on N-E aspects. Would expect these to build with continued heavy snowfall observed at the end of the day. I would be concerned if we see a spike in the winds or at higher elevation terrain of the building wind slabs that may or could be getting deeper and more connected. I would think these wind slabs could become more unmanageable with all the available snow for transport. Would also be concerned about the buried wind slabs that formed on Sunday with the high winds and the natural activity observed Sunday mid-day.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

Saw some pretty sensitive new soft additions to the already large corni lurking out there. Suspect they grew in the beginning of the storm when there was still some wind. Watch out they can be breaking further back than expected. With a little more wind they will grow even larger.

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