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Observation: Alexander Basin

Observation Date
12/21/2019
Observer Name
T Diegel
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Alexander Basin
Location Name or Route
Alexander Basin, Mill Creek
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Wind picked up during the day.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Slabbing up with wind
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
while there wasn't a ton of snow to transport, the wind was creating slabs.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
at the beginning/middle of the day the wind hadn't seemed to have affected the snow, but mid-afternoon it picked up to the point where the wind was blowing/swirling even down into the drainages off the ridges, so we had some slab development and subsequent 8" cracking on test slopes; enough so that we then avoided a bigger, "real" slope.
If the wind continues to crank overnight/tomorrow this could become real.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
In the back of my mind I wondered if a smaller windslab slide could have the power to release the well-advertised persistent weak layer? Theoretically in high north thin areas there are potential bullseye sweet spots, and a broader windslab could/would ripple across all the trigger points, so a biggie stepdown might be a result? That would be bad.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate