Observation: Whiskey Hill

Observation Date
1/28/2021
Observer Name
Staples & Davis
Region
Ogden » Monte Cristo » Whiskey Hill
Location Name or Route
Whiskey Hill - Monte Cristo Area
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Snowing pretty hard with minimal visibility. Clouds lifted, snowfall stopped, and visibility improved a lot, BUT the winds kept blowing all day.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments
Creamy dense powder. About 10" of settled new snow since last weekend. About 2-4 inches of new snow since last night.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
8,900'
Slope Angle
26°
Comments
Lots of wind loading today and there has been plenty of new snow for south winds to transport. The weakest layer in the snowpack seemed to be a thin layer of near-surface facets just under a thin crust just under the new snow. Trent and I found the same layer above Bountiful. You can see this layer just under the new snow in the photo below. You can see it propagate a crack in an extended column test after 4 light taps (ECTP4) in the video below. Also, the upper 4-6 inches of snow would consistently break but this is likely a very short lived weakness. The entire bottom half of the snowpack (at least) is weak, faceted snow that will be a problem for a long time.
We did trigger some collapses and shooting cracks. A photo below shows a short one. One of the longest in a wind loaded area was about 40 feet long.
Video
Photo below showing how the upper 4-6 inches of new snow would crack but this is a short lived weakness.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates