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Observation: Snake Creek

Observation Date
3/6/2021
Observer Name
E
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter » Snake Creek
Location Name or Route
Snake Creek Canyon
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southeast
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Light to Moderate SSE ridge top winds in the morning hours. Then they accelerated around noon and ramped up to gusty Intense bursts, with Moderate to Strong average velocities. Not much snow available for transport, yet ski tracks and skin trails were being blown in by the hour. Temperatures rose rapidly as forecast but the winds helped keep the snow surface from becoming overly wet at upper elevations.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Southerly aspects offering supportable m/f crusts while the northerlies continue to offer fun, creamy, and dense cold snow turning. Of note, the East and South aspects were slow to soften, and this appeared to be from the aforementioned winds. Then when they did warm up there was a very short window for good supportable riding before these aspects became too sloppy.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
Very small isolated pockets of Wind Slab may be possible in the Upper Elevation terrain on the upper half of the compass.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
See above and these should be manageable, and become more stubborn quickly due to the elevated temperatures.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Marginal refreeze at some Mid Elevations, and definitely in the Lower Elevations. Though much of the Wet Loose as played out, the off aspects still have some lingering potential. As the Winds back off to typical velocities the temperatures on Sunday may help promote more Wet Loose. Along with this, if the Glides didn't shed in Broads Fork today, it seems Likely they will run before the weekend is out.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low