Observation Date
3/12/2021
Observer Name
CBrown
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North
Location Name or Route
LCC, upper Mill D north
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
BKN skies, decent vis, winds along the ridge lines were light to mod from the SE, calm to light winds down in the drainages.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Conditions on the north are great, E has some wind affect/ wind press on it, south is awful most places, hard, lumpy with dust on crust, slide for life conditions. Short bits of sun allowed the new snow to take heat quick, especially on W.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
Good stability noted in general. Wind slab in weird places due to the east wind. Weird weather events make for weird avalanche problems (don't be surprised but unusual conditions out there). Had some 2'+ deep wind slab collapse and crack on me today on due north. Easily initiated push-a-lanches (WL) on West at end of day, running further than anticipated on very low angle smooth MF crust.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Unusual weather conditions will produce unusual avalanche conditions. The light density snow provided plenty of AST even where the winds were light.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
DL and WL sluffs on steeper terrain, espically the WL on southerlies with smooth bed surface (where the only reasonable skiing on south aspects were today)
Comments
It's spring. The sun will heat up the new snow quickly, green housing can happen quickly, and the E winds throw us a curve ball, not only do they ruin lots of snow, but again, unusual weather produces unusual avalanche problems, be on the look out for rapidly changing conditions and expect the unexpected as far as wind slab and snow quality...
Pictures (1 and 2) of surprisingly deep moderately stiff SS wind slab cracking and picture of WL push-a-lanche on West.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
