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Observation: Provo

Observation Date
4/21/2019
Observer Name
B
Region
Provo
Location Name or Route
Lower Mineral Basin
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Rain in the early morning up to at least 8500, and then clearing with scattered skies. By mid day the cloud deck began to thicken, and then there were two impulses that moved through. A brief period of S1 snowfall laid down of 2 cm and occurred around 1400, and then another more potent squall came in around 1530. This period of snow lasted close to an hour with at least 5 cm of new moderate density snow. Both periods of snowfall came in with lightning, escalating high end moderate winds, and moderate wind blown and or transport. Temperatures appeared to drop during the day and at 9500 they appeared to remain in the mid to upper 30's.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Areas above 10500 appeared to receive 5 to 7 cm of new high density new snow by 0700, and then another 2 to 7 cm during the day as previously cited. Cooler temperatures allowed for much improved riding with the stickiness observed the last few days only experienced from 8500 and down.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Widespread wet loose activity observed that appeared to be happening earlier in the day as well as over the past 24 hours.Poor snowpack structure identified at the interface of the buried rain crust that is down 60 cm; and this 3 cm thick barrier appears to be capable of pooling available draining water from the transitioning snowpack. This layer may in time become the location of potential wet slab activity, and should be monitored. Slope cuts on 30 degree test slopes were able to easily trigger wet loose activity. And, positive tilt tests confirmed/validated these same findings. Wind loading just off the highest ridge lines most likely was occurring especially in the late afternoon hours during the last period of snowfall.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
See above for wet loose activity; and any direct solar on Monday will likely help initiate more wet loose activity in the shallow new snow that fell on Sunday. This problem is isolated and specific to upper elevation terrain where the latest event occurred, as snowfall appeared to most significant above 9300.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
See above for this isolated/specifically located problem, and with the forecast for the winds to shift and come out of the NE this issue may be minimized. Cross loading on terrain features may still present a possibility on the upper elevation exposed ridgeline areas.
Comments
Cornices and Glide Cracks continue to be a very likely possibility with the warm temperatures.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate