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Observation: Meadows

Observation Date
3/23/2018
Observer Name
T Diegel, Patterson, Gregersen
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver Fork » Meadows
Location Name or Route
Silver Fork Meadows
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Weather Comments
A weird morning of hard snow showers, then it seemed to get really warm and greenhouse and almost rain again, then it snowed again.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

there was a few inches of new snow on top of a surface that had been overall pretty buffed out by the rain. Supportable above about 8800, marginally-supportable below that.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Despite the fact that I was out until noon yesterday and saw how hard it was raining at 8500, I was still a bit shocked at how saturated the snow was; actual visual water below the surface snow, and when I stepped off my board I went up to my crotch in wet mush (exciting). As with many times this year, the unusual configuration of the snowpack made us wary. The better riding was up high where the slope angle is mellow, so we stayed up there, but on our exit on the lower, steeper lines we were being careful to keep moving/traversing (except when I crashed) to stay out of the way of any mushalanches that we might have gotten going as we descended. We did not actually create said mushalanches, but we left at noon and with further daytime heating (even on an easterly aspect) that may have become a player, again because of the weird new snowpack we now have.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Problem #1 Comments

I don't know if it would actually be "loose" wet snow, but it will be interesting to see what happens over the next few days as new snow comes in and insulates (??) the mush below? on the south sides will it corn up faster because it's so wet? or will it never solidify due to the heat being released from the warmth of the water evaporating upwards? will the water in the mush percolate downwards to activate the deep instabilities? will it tighten up and bond better over the next 24 hours the way actual snow does? Clearly I need some lessons in thermodynamics.

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

will there be enough new snow to be transportable with the projected winds, and will the winds be strong enough to pick up the soggy snow and actually move it? we were blowin' a fair bit of cold smoke today on our turns so I'd think yes, to a certain extent, sitff windslabs on ridges could be at play due to the winds over the weekend.

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