Observation: Alta Periphery

Observation Date
11/27/2020
Observer Name
Hardesty and Wilson, Peter Donner
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Alta Periphery
Location Name or Route
Catherine's
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Cold and clear with moderate northeast winds aloft.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Sunny aspects went off today and will have a breakable crust in the morning.
Faceting already noted in the low density snow.
Comments
See video below; weak snow at the mid and upper snowpack; basal snowpack may turn towards faceting but the weakest snow remains at and near the surface.
The mid-Nov thermal crusts are weakening and are not found above 9500'.

Inversion building...with continued cold and clear, I fear that our current snowpack will start to further weaken and decay with ski penetration bottoming out to the ground, with "sandboxing" noted more readily in the faceting snowpack on the shady aspects.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates