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Observation: Brighton Perimeter

Observation Date
4/1/2017
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter
Location Name or Route
Brighton Periphery
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Early morning temperatures well below freezing and even at 1100 upper 20's at upper elevations. Along with this the Light NE winds helped keep the temperatures feeling cooler than otherwise. Trace snow overnight before skies cleared. Ski cover was mostly clear until the noon hour and then for the rest of the day Few.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Fridays elevated temperatures and greeenhousing created widespread challenging melt freeze crusts up to at least 9700 feet on all aspects except very steep due north facing. Between 9700 and 10,000 northerly facing slopes with moderate slope angles had a thin enough melt freeze crust that aggressive turning techniques allowed for good riding. All that said, the window for friendly northerly riding today was limited below 10,200 feet. Reports from LCC indicated supportable corn like conditions on SE at 1045. The substantial new snow that has fallen in the last part of the week at upper elevations has prevented supportable surface conditions from forming in many other locations. After todays temperatures and sunshine this issue should improve. The NE winds that had significant velocities above 10,500 in LCCs were not as damaging in the Snake Creek area. Other reports from LCC today validated that the NE winds definitely damaged significant amounts of upper elevation N and NE facing terrain.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
See comments regarding Fridays warm temperatures and greenhousing; and the wet activity that occurred on Friday was evident with the good visibility on Saturday. And with regard to the sunny skies and rising temperuatures on Saturday, Wet Loose acitivity was also an issue on Satureday.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

See above. And on Sunday with additional new snow and partly sunny skies combined with 40 plus degree temperuatures this Wet Loose Problem will continue

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

This issue continues to be one that warrants caution

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