Observation: Uintas

Observation Date
12/14/2018
Observer Name
jg
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Wolf Creek Summit
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Clear and calm early with increasing clouds and wind later in the day. No snow transport noted.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Yesterday's wind stripped a lot of snow off the high ridges. Variable snow conditions.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
The weakest interface is the just below the October rain crust. Not a lot water weight in this last storm, even with with wind transport, to overload this layer.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
New wind slabs were stubborn; they would crack but not move. Wind slabs should continue to settle out.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
9,300'
Slope Angle
28°
Comments
We still need more water weight on the pack to start activating the persistent weak layer but in areas that received a lot of wind and snow transport you could possibly see avalanche activity, otherwise the pack seems mostly stable. I was finding that the new snow fell on weak surface snow and I had easy and clean shear in the new storm snow but I imagine this will settle out quickly. With no snow forecast for the near future I'll be monitoring the snow surface and temperature gradient within the pack until we see another storm. Moderate danger in the wind zone and low in protected terrain out of the wind zone.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate