UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Observation: Brighton Perimeter

Observation Date
1/28/2018
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter
Location Name or Route
Upper BCC/Brighton
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Day started out with overcast skies and around 1400 there was a brief period of scattered with enough solar to adversely effect the southerly aspect at mid elevation. Winds remained light out of the WNW and appeared to be only a factor on the highest peaks. Tempertures rose rapidly to day and hit the mid 30's at mid elevations.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Melt-Freeze Crust
Rain-Rime Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Overnight there was a 1.5 mm rime crust that was deposited/observed from 8000 to 9800 feet. See above regarding solar damage and resulting melt freeze crusts. The good riding from the last two days took a severe hit, and now there is a zipper crust out there that is ridable but definitely not the quality of turning we had been enjoying during the past two weeks.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Travel today was not in any of the wind loaded and or effected terrain. The past weeks avalanche occurrances appear to have a direct correlation to the poor snowpack structure that has been present for much of the season. The upper Cottonwoods appear to have HS's that offer the possibility for helping the snowpack to heal in this zone, but confidence remains low to safely attack steep terrain in many locations.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

See above.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

Loose wet activity was limited today in the mid elevations due to the thick cloud cover, but with the temperatures forecast to rise at least another 10 degrees on Monday in combination with clear skies, this problem should excalate at mid and upper elevastions.

Danger continues to be a high consequence Moderate due to the persistent slab problem.

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