Observation: Uintas

Observation Date
12/18/2020
Observer Name
Michael Janulaitis
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Western Uintas
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
10,400'
Slope Angle
26°
Comments
I got up high today to find 22 cms of new snow. Wind effect was minimal, however some smaller slabs formed in persistent wind exposed terrain. As expected there was quite a bit facets just below the new snow that formed during our dry spell. When performing my ECT the new snow under the shovel just collapsed into the facets with no propagation. The CT was different. I was able to get a clean sheer after 15 taps but with only 30 cms of new snow this week there was not enough mass for the new snow to drop into the pit. There was a density inversion in the top 10 cm of the snow that reacted with 5 taps. The basal snow pack is stout. My shovel sheer on the remaining ECT block broke on the ground. So to sum it all up, stout snow at the bottom then 8 cm of facets capped with new medium density snow form this week up to 30 cms deep. This setup sounds to me like the receipt for large soft slabs once we get a good storm.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable