UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Observation: Whitney Basin

Observation Date
3/5/2019
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Bear River Ranger District » Whitney Basin
Location Name or Route
Whitney Basin
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Started out overcast this morning, but with a few hours of good visibility this afternoon. Clouds and wind moved back in later in the day.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Nice soft snow conditions and getting that time of year where moving around on sleds with a mostly supportable base. The recent mild temperatures have helped to settle and consolidate the snow pack and things appear to be trending towards a mostly stable snow pack where it is deep.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Really no red flags in my travels today, some very minor wind deposited snow, but generally pretty quiet avalanche wise.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
My travels today were generally where the snow pack is fairly deep and the main issue would be with the approaching storm. With forecasted strong winds and heavy wet snow, it will be interesting to see how the snow pack handles the weight.
Comments
Generally a low danger with the terrain I visited. Minor issues with recent wind drifted snow, mainly just sluffing of the surface snow.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates