Observation Date
2/16/2019
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Snowbird periphery
Location Name or Route
Lower Mineral Basin
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Early morning hours had obscured skies and light to moderate snowfall with gusty WNW winds at all elevations. By mid morning winds appeared to be only relegated to the upper elevations, and they were transporting significant amounts of new snow in the moderate category. Temperatures remained unseasonably cold and in the single digits at mid and upper elevations.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Incredible/superb riding on all aspects and elevations except in the most exposed terrain. Solar a non-issue and no crust formation except in the lower elevations on southerlies. Bottomless riding in the new snow with old snow surface of graupel from earlier in the week providing an excellent rebounding base.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Minimal poor snowpack structure in areas traveled only relegated to the upper 5 to 12 cm where there was a slight/sensitive density change from where the last part of the storm came in with graupel and rimed PP.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Wind slab development observed in the upper elevations off of exposed ridge lines, yet no travel in those zones to validate sensitivity and reactivity. Decreasing winds may have inhibited further development, yet lingering issues may be suspect on Sunday.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Widespread sensitive/reactive shallow wind slabs easily triggered with slope cuts on steep terrain features. See above for stratigraphy issues. These may settle out a bit on Sunday, but in areas where confinement of potential debris exists, this issue will remain a concern to address with appropriate terrain management skills and interventions.
Comments
Cornice concerns remain a top priority, and wide margins of safety appear critical for not only potentially triggering them remotely (and the avalanches they can then entrain) but also for the potential to initiate them and adversely effect others inadvertently below.
Danger appeared to be Moderate in areas traveled and with the winds forecast to not escalate, the Danger for Sunday appears to be Moderate with isolated concerns for Wind Slabs at upper elevations and mid elevation steep terrain features.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
