UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Observation: Spring City Canyon

Observation Date
2/15/2018
Observer Name
Brett Kobernik
Region
Skyline » Spring City Canyon
Location Name or Route
Spring City Canyon
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Moderate to strong wind getting down into the canyon bottoms as well as along the ridges. Light snowfall most of the day with one brief period of intense snowfall. Daytime accumulations of an inch or slightly more.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

8 to 10" of medium to high density new snow. Water amounts in the new snow are about 1". Riding conditions were quite nice.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

The higher density new snow along with fairly strong wind drifting the new snow and potentially overloading the buried pre-existing weak sugary faceted snow is the main concern. With poor visibility today, I was not able to travel around a whole lot to see if any natural avalanches occurred. There is certainly no shortage of weak snow around, just hop of your machine, skis, snowboard, or snowshoes and you'll most likely punch right through to the ground. There also was a good amount of higher density snow getting blown around forming drifts today. This combination should make people take note.

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