Observation: South Monitor Bowl

Observation Date
1/18/2020
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline » Monitors » South Monitor Bowl
Location Name or Route
South Monitor
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Not much wind, mostly sunny skies and fairly warm temperatures.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
The new snow had settled out to about a foot. Light density and right side up. The S facing was getting damp in the afternoon.
Comments
Went to South Monitor knowing it had avalanche fairly large on Tuesday during the wind event. I was a little suspect of wind loading in the top but when I slid into the bowl it was obvious that there was a foot plus of light density snow sitting on the bed surface with no wind load or slab, couldn't even buy a sluff. Looking around from the ridge there was not much evidence of any large avalanches but there were signs of soft slab activity and natural sluffing in West Monitor. Seems like most of the big lines that you can see from there got skied today with no mishaps. I think the storm snow instabilities settled out yesterday afternoon and the wind slabs were not a factor in the terrain covered. Photos: minimal sluffing in S Monitor, cornice drops and sluffs in W Monitor.
I think the main activity tomorrow will be wet slide and solar related with a warmer day in store.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate