32nd Annual Backcountry Benefit- Get Your Ticket Now!
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: Snowbird periphery

Observation Date
3/26/2017
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Snowbird periphery
Location Name or Route
Snowbird Periphery
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Variable Light winds initially out of the NW and veering to the SW. No wind blown and or transport observed during the day. Temperatures rose rapidly in the late morning and then the cloud cover thickened. Morning clear skies gave way to Broken by mid afternoon; and at 1830 skies are now Overcast at the time of this writing.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Once again the overnight winds out of the NW damaged/altered significant amounts of the snow surface at upper elevation exposed areas. Damage was not as severe as on Friday, but wind crusts, and slabs were observed; and the riding was challenging in some of this terrain. Low angle riding in the limited amounts of new snow was good on east and south aspects that did not have any old ruts and or tracks. Due northerly facing terrain rode the best early in the day. Yet, by 1330 with the cloud cover moving in there was a definite period of greenhousing that was occurring. Even on due north facing terrain with slope angles of 35 degrees and greater, at 9900 feet, the top 5 cm got damp. High relative humidity overnite combined with the winds made for the new snow to be more dense than it would have been otherwise. By the end of the day all aspects up to 10000 feet were damp and or wet.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Poor snowpack continues to be related to easy shears with slope cuts, and widespread avalanching at the old snow/new snow surfaces. In the am before the new snow became damp, Dry Loose Avalanches and sensitive shallow Soft Slabs were active. Then once the new snow became damp and or wet, Wet Loose Avalanches and Wet Slabs were active.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

As stated above Wet Loose Avalanches were active and they were entraining significant amounts of snow upon descent, especially on the northerly aspects. Sluff management was necessary to avoid problems.

And in some very steep areas propagation and Wet Slab activity was initiated with slope cuts.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

Isolated pockets of Wind Slab were possible in the upper elevation exposed terrain from top and cross loading from the N and NW overnight winds.

Very little natural activity was observed, and as a result the Danger appeared to be a fairly widespread Moderate on Sunday.

For Monday, the Danger may be mostly related to any new snow issues; and if the forecast of snow comes in lower than actual new snow totals the Danger may raise to Considerable during periods of heavy PI. If this does not occur the Danger may continue to be Moderate for Isolated Wind Slabs, Wet Loose on Southerly exposures as well as mid elevations with rising temperatures, and Loose Dry on upper elevation steep terrain on the northerly aspects.

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