Observation: Upper Weber Canyon

Observation Date
3/8/2019
Observer Name
jg
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Snow starting in the morning and continued all day with generally S-2 snowfall although heavier at times. Light to moderate SW wind with gusts in the 20's and 30's moving snow. Temps in the mid 20's at 9K and mid teens at 10K.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
PaPow! Snow depths got deeper as the day went on.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
The new snow wasn't bonding well with the old snow surface. The new wind drifted snow was easy to ski cut and was was only forming very soft slabs that broke up as they slid down the slope. Easy to mitigate and manage and very predictable. With forecasted winds meant to be easing up, the danger should be decreasing.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Areas with a thinner snowpack, like repeater paths, are the most suspect as far as this problem goes. There still exists poor structure in areas with a deeper pack but pit test results have been reflecting a strengthening snowpack. We dug a pit on a 40°+ slope in a repeater path today and, although we got propagation in our ECT, it failed with very hard effort and without a lot of energy. The weakness was the snow that wasn't stripped clean in previous slides.
Feeling like there was not enough water weight added to the snowpack to activate these deeper weaknesses and with not a lot wind and additional snow forecasted I would guess the danger will not change much in this regard. Nonetheless, an avalanche breaking in a deep persistent weak layer would not have a good outcome.
Comments
New snow instabilities were the main issue today. Generally they were just loose, dry sloughs and very soft slabs.
Cornices continue to be sensitive and are very large in some place. Like, really large.
Excellent conditions right now. The Uinta snowpack is as deep as I've seen it and the storms keep coming.
Considerable danger on wind drifted slopes but generally manageable. Not fully convinced we're completely out of the water with our persistent slab problem but feeling like places with a deep pack are pretty solid in that respect.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable