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Observation: Cardiff Pass

Observation Date
1/10/2018
Observer Name
Tyler Falk
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Pass
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Pass
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Snowfall stoped in the late afternoon which was S2 in rate earlier in the day. Obscured skys early then as the storm was moving out cloud cover went to broken. Strong gusts on 10k ridgelines transporting snow.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
13"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Since 1/6 Alta reported 2.03" of water with 14.5" of snow which gave us 14% density. Height of snow ranged from 70cm on south aspects at 8500 to 140cm on East aspects at 9600 where I traveled today.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Lots of red flags out there today. Two inches of water weight and high winds should tip the scales in some locations with weak snow underneath. Natural class 2 avalanche on Superior along with other recent avalanches occuring.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

For tomorrow Persistant Slabs would be my number one concern. I would expect to be able to get propagation on ECT's still on N/NE aspects above 9500 in areas with a poor snowpack structure.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

Winds are currently cranking in the 30's on top of Baldy from the WNW. Lots of available snow for transport out there now. There is a possibility of wind slabs stepping down into weak layers out there in places.

Comments

This is a good storm for up high but some low and mid elevation sites are getting a beating from the rain and warm temps. NRCS numbers for median SWE...

Snowbird@ 65%

Brighton@ 67%

Parleys@ 68%

Snow depth changes from 1/6 to 1/10....

Higher Elevation Sites:

Brighton 8700' 16"/21"

Thaynes 9200' 21"/28"

Trial Lk 9992' 30"/37"

Lower Elevation Sites:

Cascade 7774' 8"/8"

Smith Morehouse 7631' 12"/11"

Pic. 1 Transport on to south aspects.

Pic 2. Clearing skys late in the day.

Pic 3. Quick pit on a east aspect @ 9400.

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