Observation: UFO Bowls

Observation Date
1/19/2020
Observer Name
Henninger / Champion
Region
Provo » Provo Canyon » North Fork Provo R. » UFO Bowls
Location Name or Route
UFO Bowls
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Beautiful bluebird day.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
True south-facing aspects were damp by the afternoon. North, east and west aspects were holding cold soft snow. Overall great riding conditions.
Lower elevation band true south had a thick breakable crust by 3 pm.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
9,700'
Comments
Searching for wind drifted snow, with only substantial amounts >1' found within top ~50ft of ridges and sub ridges. We could see obvious signs of previous wind loading, such as scoured south faces and cornices at ridge tops, but nothing that seemed reactive. When tested none were found to be reactive with ski cutting. Otherwise consistent 6" new snow from 2 days ago staying low-density pow all aspects aside from direct South. On direct South the top couple inches became moist, with a few steep areas, especially around rocks, had small point releases <size 1. Most were likely to have occurred yesterday during the first day of solar radiation rather than today. Refrozen South-facing aspects had 1" breakable crust.
Found one area, on an NW aspect at 9800' that had propagation (ECTP24), this was not a planar break and occurred on a thin layer of 1.5mm near surface facets, most likely formed between christmas and new years. No other persistent weak layers of concern.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates