Observation Date
1/29/2019
Observer Name
Mark Staples
Region
Salt Lake » Snake Creek
Location Name or Route
Snake Creek to Dry Fork
Comments
Beautiful day in the mountains. Clear, sunny weather and clear cold nights. The snow surface is weakening - we'll see if this is an issue when snow falls this weekend. There are four signs the snow surface is weakening and faceting.
- Clear cold nights and warm sunny days tend to facet the snow surface
- Surface hoar is growing. While these crystals tend to get destroyed, the weather that forms them, tends to form near surface facets.
- Small, faceted crystals were observed just under a very thin crust.
- The temperature profile. Note the warm temps at the surface and much colder temps just a few centimeters deep. This is a steep temperature gradient.
If the powder seems to "dry out" or get looser this week, it is a sign that the snow surface has continued to facet. Otherwise, the snowpack is deep and strong. Buried faceted layers have gotten stronger and basically healed in many places.
Photos below show large settlement cones around trees. It was really pretty in the Aspens. It also show how much the new snow in January has settled (or compressed) since it has fallen.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates