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Observation: Scotts Bowl

Observation Date
12/22/2021
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline » Scotts Bowl
Location Name or Route
PC Ridgeline/Scotts Pass Area
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Mostly cloudy in the am with increasing cloud cover by early pm. Very Light Snow beginning at 1300. Light Winds even blowing lower down in the drainages, with Moderate velocities along the ridglines. Wind Blown observed with minimal loading. Temperatures unseasonably warm.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
SH and NSF's observed in most locations with significant Wind Damage and total wind scouring on the exposed Upper Elevation Terrain. Solar aspects have a variably thick m/f crust. Off aspects (E and W) and the Polar Aspects still housing fun riding in settled Powder where there are not other tracks from backcountry users and snow machines.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Whommping! Positive Snowpack Test Scores.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Poor structure remains in place from October and November Facets with anywhere from a 45 to 70 cm slab overriding these buried weak layers. Of note, the most reactive weak layer appears to be just below the most recent snows that have been accumulating in the past 10 days. CTM SC, and ECTN's were observed at this interface.
It appears that any new loading will elevate and increase the danger and reactivate these weak layers; and if the forecast verifies the sensitivities observed after our pervious storm events will once again be a significant/major player in all terrain that is housing old faceted snow (WNW-N-E at Mid and Upper Elevations)
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Winds observed and those identified by Remote Weather Stations indicate a possibility for the creation of newly formed Wind Slabs. And if any of these were triggered, then the potential to step down to the lower faceted layers was a definite possibility.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates