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Observation: Twin Lakes Pass

Observation Date
2/8/2020
Observer Name
Hardesty
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch » Twin Lakes Pass
Location Name or Route
Twin Lakes area
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Partly cloudy becoming obscured by mid-afternoon. A trace of graupel in the afternoon.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Rain-Rime Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Graupel, spatially variable 2mm rime crust and more dense snow. Skiied like a backcountry groomer. Note rime has been a player with this storm - warm air advection, northwest flow. Settled 60-80cm of heavy dense storm snow that seemed maritime in nature.
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
No red flags noted in my travels but for explosive work at the ski areas.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
9,500'
Comments
Interface as noted in profile comprised of decomposing/fragmented stellars from the 'upside down' Monday storm roughly 6-7% density. Slab is the 60-70cm much higher density snow (initially 14% by Thurs eve).
ECTX. Should heal very soon. Last Sat/Sun snow surfaces weakened but mostly destroyed by sun, wind, clouds. Will still need to keep an eye on these old interfaces for another day or two; esp. where storm was more meager and old interfaces more protected.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None