Observation Date
1/7/2021
Observer Name
Kikkert
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Sun in and out all day. Cold in the wind. Winds were drifting snow along the most exposed ridgelines and expect maybe a few new wind slabs, but would expect them to be shallow and confined to right near ridgelines.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
Soft settled powder on most aspects, with wind affect in exposed terrain. Southerly facing slopes did have a slight sun crust.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
This weeks storm, with 6" of snow and some wind resulted in at least 5 natural avalanches, and I have been able to provoke a few more since. The fact that this relatively small load can lead to the amount and size of natural avalanches that it did - shows how weak the snowpack is. Outside of wind loaded terrain, there is a less of a slab, but continued cracking and collapsing show that the setup is still there.
Photo 1 shows limited drifting observed from SW winds at upper elevations. Photo 2 shows one of the recent avalanches on an upper elevation NE facing aspect.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
