Observation: Cardiff Bowl

Observation Date
3/16/2019
Observer Name
Patrick Fink
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Bowl
Location Name or Route
Cardiac Bowl
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Rapid Warming
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Lots of wet activity on all aspects except NE-NW. South facing terrain was isothermal glop around 3pm and natural wet slides were long-running in the steep terrain off the Superior ridgeline. East and West both became damp in the top 2 inches, and as the sun went down began to form a punchy and unsupportable crust. Steep terrain on cardiac was shedding rollerballs beginning near rocky outcroppings. Almost all south facing slide paths over the LCC road seem to have slid as well. While the diurnal variation may push the danger back to considerable in the afternoon tomorrow, a few rounds of this heating and cooling will gradually decrease the danger of wet activity as the surface snow consolidates.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Not many big ones around, but they're groaning in the sun. Standard wide berth avoidance in effect.
Comments
Riding conditions were excellent on shady, high, due north slopes. Below 9k' runnels are forming in the snow suggesting significant movement of water in the pack and springtime consolidation.
Forecaster Commetns: Trent Meisenheimer edited this observation. Patrick please contact me at [email protected]
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates