Observation: Brighton Perimeter

Observation Date

2/16/2022

Observer Name

Region

Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter

Location Name or Route

Brighton Perimeter

Weather

Sky

Overcast

Precipitation

Light Snowfall

Wind Direction

Northwest

Wind Speed

Moderate

Weather Comments

Temperatures seasonably cold and in the lower 20's. Winds were out of the WNW and in the Moderate category with Moderate Wind Blown observed in many locations. S-1 Snowfall throughout the day.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Faceted Loose

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Snow Characteristics Comments

The variable conditions that existed before todays event are now buried with 2 to 6 inches of very light density snow. Riding is good on Low Angle Slopes that were smooth before the latest event. The new snow is fast. Skinning is very slippery on anything that isn't low angle and appropriate for skinning.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Wind Loading

Cracking

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

Widespread Loose Dry on many steep slopes. Most appeared to have some kind of Wind Loading as a contributing factor. These winds were creating soft slabs and they were up to 10 to 12 inches deep. It was very easy to initiate Loose Dry Avalanches on slopes steeper than 33 degrees. These Loose Dry Avalanches were running on various bed surfaces and weak layers. In the shady protected areas where there are varying depths of NSF's this layer was serving as a reactive weak layer. In other areas the slick and slippery old snow surfaces were serving as an excellent bed surface and in these firm sun crusted areas the new snow appeared to be bonding to the old m/f crusts. On these slopes there appeared to be a small/minor inversion within the new snow.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Wind Drifted Snow

Trend

Same

Problem #1 Comments

See above regarding Shallow/Manageable Wind Slabs. With the Light density snow, even Moderate to Light Winds appear capable of contributing to Wind Slab development.

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

New Snow

Trend

Increasing Danger

Problem #2 Comments

See above for Loose Dry Issues.

And with the forecast for Sunny skies on Thursday, there will be concerns for Loose Wet on steep slopes with aspects receiving direct solar: SE, S, SW and W o

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Moderate

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Moderate

Coordinates

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