Join us at our 2nd Annual Blizzard Ball
Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Weather Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills On-Snow Courses Resources and Tutorials
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Observation: Mill D North

Observation Date
3/4/2020
Observer Name
Champion
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North
Location Name or Route
Reynolds - Toms Hill
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Warm day, more clouds came in through the afternoon. Where I was traveling the light to moderate winds seemed to keep the snow surface pretty cool, but I didn't see any signs of the wind transporting the snow.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
North aspects still holding onto some cold soft snow, the last few evenings have caused some faceting and surface hoar growth on the true north aspects.
All South, West and East facing aspects had been affected by the sun - either damp, or a melt-freeze crust of sorts. The shine on old south aspects could be seen from a distance.
Comments
After a few days of sun, there is still a bit of soft snow left on the north-facing aspects. It seems that all south aspects have been pretty heavily baked from the sun and warm temperatures. I tried to avoid traveling on S. facing aspects, but on the aspects I did travel on they seemed to stay cool enough where I was to avoid seeing any natural wet activity. The only place that I was able to see any roller ball action was directly below a small rock band at lower elevations. The out track was damp and grabby by the time I exited.
The true north-facing aspects had some pretty widespread 1-2mm surface hoar, that must have formed in the last day or two since it was also formed in the skin track. I think tomorrow's warmer temperatures will most likely destroy the faceting grains and surf hoar, but the interface between the previous crust and weaker north-facing snow will continue to be the areas I am most concerned about once we add more snow.
Until then I would expect to see increased wet activity on S. aspects given the temperatures near 50 moving into the weekend.
S. facing low elevation roller balls:
The surface hoar on N. facing aspects
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates