Observation: Little Cottonwood Canyon

Observation Date
1/14/2019
Observer Name
evelyn
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Little Cottonwood
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southeast
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Wind speeds and gusts were higher than forecast. Hard to come up with a pattern - in some spots, the passes seemed windier than high points. But in general, southerly and easterly facing slopes were getting moderate winds at both mid and upper elevations. Some northerly facing slopes were calm.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Weather forecast is for the southeasterly to southwesterly winds to continue for another 24 hours, with a slight increase in speeds tomorrow. Today's winds were finding some snow to transport, and starting to form shallow, small wind drifts. Drift size might be small, but the drifts will be sitting on weak, faceted snow so could be surprisingly sensitive. I was finding the drifts to be small, pockety and in erratic locations. Identifying their location could be tricky as they grow bigger and then are hidden beneath the new snow, and they'll be in unusual spots.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
I was finding widespread 3 - 4 inches of weak, near surface facets on the shady slopes, at most elevations. With cool temperatures and southerly winds, I don't think they will get destroyed. Instead, I'm thinking we may bury these NSF as a new persistent weak layer tomorrow/tomorrow night if we get the 3 to 6" of snow in the forecast. I saw only very small surface hoar in spots - much smaller and less widespread than what I saw and is being reported in the Ogden area mountains.
On off-aspect (easterly?) I quickly looked at had a thin sun crust with fist hardness facets beneath.
Comments
Photos: Wind patterns on the snow, the shallow, building wind crust that's sitting on loose, weak facets.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate