Observation: Cardiff Fork

Observation Date
3/19/2020
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Fork
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Overcast, foggy with poor visibility, not much snow accumulations during the day but it started snowing fairly hard at 3:30pm. Not much wind on the ridge line and little to no snow transport.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Seems like there was a storm total of about 10 inches, there was probably 12 but snow settles fast this time of year. The new snow is right side up with denser snow at the bottom, lighter on top, and the snow line dropped to about 5500ft by 4 pm
Comments
Went into Cardiff Fork from LCC with entry through N facing Power Outage or the Keyhole which ever you prefer then proceeded out to Hansen's on Cardiac Ridge. The new snow was really well bonded on the N end of the compass, not quite as well bonded to the S facing but nothing drastic. Noted shallow sluffs/slides on SE facing Cardiac Ridge and above Hansen's in super steep terrain but they didn't run very far or entrain much snow. There's not enough weight to break through the old Dicken Crust into weaker faceted snow in the terrain covered. It seems that hazard tomorrow will depend on the wind, if it stays calm the hazard will remain low, if the wind picks up from the SW there might be windslabs that could be triggered on the N end of the compass. If the sun comes out wet activity is almost certain.
photo: shallow sluff above Hansen's and good snow no visibility
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate