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Observation: Brighton Perimeter

Observation Date
3/25/2019
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter
Location Name or Route
Brighton Periphery
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Clear skies overnight and throughout the day. Temperatures dipped into the teens overnight and then rose rapidly by the noon hour. Fortunately the morning temperatures remained much cooler than the previous three mornings. Afternoon highs appeared to escalate into the upper 30's at 9500, and mid to upper 40's from 8000 to 8500. Winds were light out of the SW until late morning and then by early afternoon they veered to be more out of the S. No wind blown and or transport observed.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Excellent creamy carving in the new snow from the weekend up until 1400 upon my exit. In the more exposed upper elevations the snow had received some wind late Sunday and through the evening/early morning hours. As a result the tracks from the weekend were mostly erased, and the texture was a bit more dense and creamy. today. Sheltered shady aspects had even better/lighter density riding conditions. Low angle slopes on SE, S and SW aspects had a crust to start the day. By mid day, the low angle terrain on all aspects got slow and grabby, and will be crusted on Tuesday. The only cold dry snow that will be left after today will be found above 8500 feet on northerly aspects with slope angles > 25 degrees. Reports from many locations indicated there was significant greenhousing that occurred on Sunday, and in these specific locations, the crusts were more widespread.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
Observations from multiple steep lines ridden today indicated that there was still a significant Loose Dry issue before these slopes were receiving solar radiation. Human triggered stuffing was widespread with accumlations becoming significant piling up debris piles of at least a meter deep in many locations. These stuffs were running far and fast in the morning hours. The weak layer appeared to be the same graupel interface on a density change within the storm snow. Pockets of soft slab activity from Sunday on multiple slopes and aspects validated a very active avalanche cycle. By 1200 hours southerly facing steep terrain was beginning to show roller balls as well as a few small Wet Loose avalanches. Within the next 2 hours this activity appeared to escalate in the mid elevations traveled.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
See above, and with the forecast for increasing temperatures for the next 48 hours this problem may actually continue and or get worse. ENE and E slopes may see a similar cycle on Tuesday morning. Wet Slab activity may be possible by Wednesday as we receive our highest temperatures of the season.
See above for the Loose Dry activity observed today.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
The forecast for elevated temperatures may help initiate a natural Cornice cycle over the next 48 to 72 hours.
Danger/Hazard today appeared to be mostly Moderate with the potential for it rising to Considerable during the mid to late afternoon hours with the intense daytime heating and solar creating Wet Loose naturals. Tuesday may see more of the same in the afternoon hours.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable