Observation Date
1/7/2022
Observer Name
T Diegel
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon
Location Name or Route
Big Cottonwood - the Cone and Silver Fork
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Wind was clearly cranking last night as per Greg's morning report: ridges were hardened and tree debris was on the lee side.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments
No need to say it was warm, but....it was warm! Below freezing temps in the morning surprisingly made yesterday's mush below about 8356 feet supportable, and above that it transitioned to pretty nice snow on all aspects. Then the sun came out and the temp rocketed upward, so likely all south facing got cooked? But incoming afternoon cloud cover may have spared the SW facing stuff from suffering the same fate.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
We did not get any indications of skitchy avalanche issues ala whoomphs and such, but we still did not venture into steep northerly windloaded terrain with the images of the monstrous local crowns still dancing in our heads.
today was a challenging one to figure: wet and goopy down low with rain and prolonged heat, but we wouldn't be tempted to go there anyway since it was wet and goopy. South facing was tempting, but with the strong overnight westerlies there was potential for sub-ridge cross loading (and once again I wasn't sure if I could park at Alta to partake in the south facing upper LCC shots?). Rapid overall warming made for potential for wet slides even up high, and the wind-loading made for hard slab potential. And of course there's the northerly PWL issue.
We did see some point releases that rained small debris down from rocks and such, but nothing cohesive/consistent. Perhaps an indication of what may come after this upcoming small storm.
Comments
Greg hinted at it this morning, but I think that this warm wet load with a small storm coming in tonight followed by a prolonged bout of high pressure is going to really help us with our ongoing snowpack problems. Within a few days probably the only avvies are going to be explosive-caused, and the skier-triggered danger could drop dramatically as the 'pack adjusts to the big weight just added to it. We will probably continue to exercise patience, but perhaps by the time we get our next shot of snow we'll only be dealing with new snow instabilities?
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
