Observation: Emma Ridges

Observation Date
1/2/2020
Observer Name
Cody Hughes
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Emma Ridges
Location Name or Route
Emma Ridges
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
In and out snow squalls throughout the day. Winds transporting snow on the leeward side of ridges and cross-loading mid-slope noted.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
15"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Excellent turning conditions with right side up powder conditions. Warm snow from yesterday bonded well to crust on the south and was capped with 8-10 inches of lower density snow on top. Noted Loose Dry (slough) in the steeper terrain. No connected storm slabs.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Avalanches hitting the road in lcc... 2" of water in 15" of snow in 48 hours. Nuking winds out of the WNW. Digging revealed an alarming facet crust combo. Find the wind find avalanches.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
I only traveled on the south aspects today. I caught news there were large propagating avalanches on south-facing avalanche paths during control work in LCC and was curious what allowed these to propagate so far releasing enough snow to hit the road. When I dug down on the emmas I was finding a temperature crust that formed before this storm cycle and underneath the crust found some small grained facets and low-density powder. I was out of the wind zone and did not find a slab therefore, I was not getting propagation in my ECT. I believe if you find the wind (slab) you can find larger connected avalanches that fail underneath the unsupportable crust where weaker snow is present. With the forecasted winds to remain high out of the northwest I am avoiding exposed steep south aspects where wind-driven slabs of snow will be very sensitive to the weight of skier or boarder. Lose the wind and find excellent right side up powder.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable