Observation Date
4/29/2020
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter » Snake Creek Pass
Location Name or Route
Snake Creek Canyon
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Clear skies overnight, as well as throughout the day, with RH values in the mid 30's. Overnight lows in the mid 30's at upper elevations with valley bottom sites reading below freezing. Temperatures spiked by mid morning.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Rock hard refreeze at all altitudes. Refreeze ranging from 10 to 15 cm thick with wet grains below. Excellent corn riding with ripening on aspects as follows: East 0900-1000; SE 0930-1030; S 1000-1100; SW 1100-1200; W 1200-1300.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Collapsing
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
At the end of each corn ripening cycle isolated Corn Slab Collapsing was experienced. As the frozen surface layers began to thaw, these slopes struggled to be supportable. As a result, there were Collapses observed on all sub 30 degree terrain traveled, and there was limited propagation due to shallow slope angles.
The steeper landscape is littered with Loose Wet Avalanches and their debris. It appeared that many of these were from the last 48 hours; and I was able to hear one such Avalanche from the 8-Ball Area around 1200 hours.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
The majority of the activity observed was Wet Loose. Yet, exiting from the BC was done by 1330, and it was Likely that additional activity occurred in the excessive heat of the mid and late afternoon hours. Wet Slabs were a possibility; and the forecast for tonight and tomorrow Most Likely will increase the trend for this Avalanche Problem.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Cornices and the potential for Glide Avalanches continue to be problems to consider and address with extreme caution.
Comments
Overnight Lows may be at least 10 degrees warmer tonight, and the forecast for daytime highs on Thursday look to be at least 5 degrees warmer. Increasing cloud cover and rising RH values will only enhance the potential for these issues to be contributing factors of concern.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High
