UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Observation: Mt Holly

Observation Date
2/26/2021
Observer Name
Andrew Nassetta
Region
Southwest » Tushers » Mt Holly
Location Name or Route
Mt. Holly
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
A cold day in the Tushars, temps were 0 F at 0900 with winds moving from the West at moderate speeds. Little snow available that had not already been moved around. Precip was supposed to move through in the morning, but veered north and skys were ultimately clear for the most part. Periods of S1 precip occurred in the mid-late afternoon, but little accumulation was noted.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments
Surface conditions varied from firm windpack, to soft dense powder in sheltered terrain. The winds sure do put in a good effort in the Tushars and many of the West faces are stripped to the rock. Find sheltered low-angle terrain out of the wind zone and that's the ticket for good skiing and riding right now!
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Generally, the snowpack is under a meter in most areas, with a strong cohesive slab ranging from 1F to P hardness in most places, sitting atop about 30 cm of weak faceted snow below.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
Like many other areas across the state, a slab 2-5ft deep sits above 20-40cm of weak sugary, faceted snow, that once triggered can produce large and dangerous avalanches. This was formed by early preseason snow that sat around and rotted, then as the winter switch turned on the slab formed, all the recipe is missing right now is a trigger, and that is usually us. Although they are becoming harder to trigger, the consequences remain the same if we do.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable