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Observation: Alta Periphery

Observation Date
3/20/2020
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Alta Periphery
Location Name or Route
Alta Brighton perimeter
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Cloud cover in place until exiting at 1200 hours. Very Light variable winds vacillating from the SE to the NW. No transport observed. Temperatures in the early morning hours were unseasonably cold and maintained this cold feeling till 1145.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
2 to 4 inches of very light density snow fell from 1600 on 20200319 and through the night in the upper Cottonwoods. Riding was excellent on all aspects with the aspects on the upper half of the compass mostly bottomless in HST of at least 12 inches. While riding on the lower half of the compass you could still feel the old pre-storm snow surface, yet it was still very good. Once below 9200 feet the Storm totals appeared to be much less regardless of the aspect.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
Despite exiting early it was obvious that the intermittent cloud cover that was occurring during the afternoon hours most likely helped promote green housing in certain areas; and probably there was Wet Loose occurring in the light density new snow. While riding on very steep northerly facing terrain it was easy to initiate very manageable shallow Loose Dry Sluffs that were running in the top 4 inches of new snow.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
See above and the trend for this problem most likely will increase on Saturday.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
See above regarding Loose Dry; and the heavy traffic that was out both today and yesterday appeared to be testing many steep lines without serious activity.
Any sudden increase in Winds most likely will promote Wind Slab issues with all the snow available for transport.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low