Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Weather Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Class List UAC Class List Online Classes Resources and Tutorials Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Observation: Wolverine

Observation Date
3/11/2021
Observer Name
E
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Wolverine
Location Name or Route
Wolverine
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
S-1 snowfall until 1200 hours when the rate increased to at least S2 for the next 4 hours. Calm to very Light Winds even on the highest ridge lines and Peaks. No significant Wind Blown observed. Cloud cover remained Overcast throughout the day with no solar damage occurring.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Riding continued to improve throughout the day with the additional new snow accumulations. Initially the S and SW facing terrain had only the 2 to 3 inches of new snow resting on yesterday afternoons m/f crust. On all other aspects at the start of the day the HST had accumulated to at least 8 inches with yesterdays new snow settling out and becoming more dense. You could still feel the old tracks in some locations, but obviously the afternoons accumulations continued to help smooth things out. Very little Wind effects observed.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Red Flags Comments
Yesterdays reactive Loose Dry settled out significantly at the start of the day. The 4 inches of new light density snow that began the day, and fell in the last 24 hours, was not stuffing in the early morning hours. There was very little Natural Loose Dry observed initially today. Tour ended by 1330 right when the Rate of snowfall was beginning to hit the Red Flag category. It was likely that during that period, the Loose Dry Avalanche Problem became reactive on steep terrain. By 1600 hours the precipitation abated at 8000 feet with daytime accumulations hitting 6 inches. As forecast, the height of new snow varied significantly throughout the Range with totals from 2 to 7 inches during this afternoons event.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
See above regarding Loose Dry, and if this event brings in another heavy round of PI, Storm Slab may be an issue. Any avalanches in the new snow may be running fast and far on the good bed surfaces out there. The trend will continue increasing with any new snowfall, but it is Likely that these instabilities will settle out quickly once the snowfall ends.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
The forecast looks mostly cloudy, but even any short periods of open skies with sunshine will immediately bring on Loose Wet activity.
The day began with a Low Danger rating, but Likely bumped up to Moderate during the afternoon hours in areas receiving Heavy Snowfall.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates