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Observation: Park City Ridgeline

Observation Date
1/22/2021
Observer Name
E. Murray
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline
Location Name or Route
Park City Ridgeline
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Nothing new here, this layer will likely be stressed with new snow depending on how well this storm delivers and if wind increases overnight. One thing ill note is that the November snow isn't the only faceted snow in the snow pack right now. There are near surface facets now as well from all the high pressure we've had in between are few storms this season.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
My main goal for today was to take a walk on the Park City ridgeline looking at the current snow surface as this new storm moves in because todays snow surface is tomorrows weak layer. The ridge north from 9990 was covered in surface hoar on many aspects, I was mainly looking at North and East aspects as these make up most of the slide paths on the ridge. at around 11 am a very light snow began s-1 with calm winds out of the WSW. The rate of snow fall throughout the tour fluctuated from s-1 when we began at 11am to s2 by 330pm when we made our exit back into the Canyons ski resort.
Comments
With the calm winds on the ridge and the precipitation beginning, my immediate thought was the surface hoar that was going to be buried by the new snow. throughout the day the wind remained calm to light and new snow accumulated was around 2 inches in the 4 hours we were out. If the storm ends up producing enough snow on top of the surface hoar we could see some avalanche activity in the new snow that could step down into PWL. While on the tour we did notice the usual collapsing and cracking in less compacted terrain that has felt like the norm since the storms in December that broke the late Novermber high pressure.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High