Observation: Scotts Bluff

Observation Date
12/14/2020
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline » Scotts Bluff
Location Name or Route
Scott’s Bluff
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Cold and moist with light snowfall, foggy and low lying clouds most of the day, light NW winds that were moderate on the ridgeline
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
4 more inches of new light density snow from last night and this morning.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Comments
Went up to the Guard road and headed for Scott's Bluff, cracking and collapsing was the norm on all aspects except S, even the W would produce shooting cracks on every turn. There's still not much of a slab but even where the wind has just kissed the new snow surface slightly results in shooting cracks and collapses. Right now the instabilities are in your face and hard not to recognize, but some steep N facing slopes have been wind scoured at the top in the starting zone and require getting down the slope aways to hit the sweet spot with the weak layer underlying it. More new snow or just a bump in wind speeds will surely increase the hazard.
photos: shooting cracks, and collapses, and a look at the weak layer on the N facing.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable