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Observation: Provo

Observation Date
2/26/2019
Observer Name
B
Region
Provo
Location Name or Route
Lower Mineral Basin
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Early morning low level cloud deck made visibility basically impossible at upper elevations, and down to 9200 feet. By 1100 skies became scattered with even less cloud cover by mid afternoon. Temperatures appeared to not quite hit the forecast highs, yet at 1630 it was still 40 degrees at 8000. Shady aspects were able to escape the intense heat, but aspects on the lower half of the compass were feeling the intense spring like warmth. Moderate SW and WSW winds at upper elevations with the wind blown and or transport continuing to load and be a factor.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Mondays highs combined with the consistent winds have thickened up the remaining powder, and fortunately these same winds have helped to erase many of the pre-existing tracks. Riding today was fun, but the snow resembled dense spring like powder generally found in late March to April. Aspects on the lower half of the compass continue to grow m/f crusts. Wind damaged snow exists in much of the upper elevation exposed terrain with N and NW aspects.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Poor snowpack structure continues to be found at the interface to the latest small rounds of new snow over the past 48 hours. NSF's were buried in isolated locations, and multiple small wind slabs were triggered at this reactive layer. Wind slabs were anywhere from 30 cm to 15 cm thick and up to 16 meters wide. See photos below. Convex rollovers and leeward ridge lines were locations that saw this kind of sensitivity. The dense new snow aided by the winds have helped create this slab structure.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
See above and photos below for this wind slab issue. With the winds forecast to continue in red flag velocities, this issue most likely will remain the same and possibly increase over the next 24 hours.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Continued warm temperatures and wind loading may combine to help increase the likelihood of Cornice issues.
Comments
1st photo by SZW.
Any sustained periods of direct sunshine during daytime heating hours may contribute to additional wet loose issues.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates