Observation: Little Cottonwood Canyon

Observation Date
4/14/2018
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon
Location Name or Route
South facing LCC
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Cold and partly cloudy in the AM, light winds out of the NW.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
13"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

The new snow had settled out to about a foot this morning with a spongy base, light density on top and about boot deep penetration while skiing. SE started to get damp around 9:30-10:00 due S about a half a hour after that. Started seeing point releases and wet activity around 10:30. Not really sure how bad the wet activity got after noon because I vacated before then.

Comments

The new snow and wind slabs from the last two days seemed fairly glued in place today and sluffing of the surface snow was minimal, in the terrain covered. Due to clouds and a cool breeze from the NW the S facing aspects lasted longer than expected providing good skiing until about 11:00AM. I would think E, SE, S,SW and W would have some sort of crust on it tomorrow, and high elevation N aspects would still have dry snow in the AM. The wet activity may be on the rise tomorrow with sunny skies and a warm wind from the S, and warmer temperatures forecasted.

Photos: the snow surface just staring to become damp on due S around 10:30AM, minor sluffing caused by the heating up of rocks shedding snow.

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