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Observation: Brighton Perimeter

Observation Date
2/16/2022
Observer Name
B
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
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