Observation Date
12/14/2022
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Whitney area
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Mostly cloudy this morning with a brief period of clearing for about an hour before clouds and light snow began early this afternoon. Temperatures stayed cool and the northwest wind added a chill in the air.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
20"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Great low density snow that rides and turns very well. The coverage is pretty amazing for this time of the year and the recent storm has delivered around 18-20" of very nice cold low density snow.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
A good shot of new snow and strong winds have changed the landscape in the Whitney area. Collapsing, recent avalanches and heavy snow fall are stressing the poor snow pack structure.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
The recent storm has likely overloaded the weak snow pack with heavy snowfall and strong winds. Much of Double Hill went through a decent natural avalanche cycle with old crowns and debris piled up at the bottom of slopes. There was not wide spread natural avalanches from what I could tell around the area and the cold light density snow might not have been enough load right now to trigger a lot of the terrain.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Poking around the recent avalanche from yesterday, this pencil hard slab is a good indication that the wind has been hammering much of the exposed terrain and putting a hard dense slab on a weak snow pack.
Comments
Was able to grab a couple more photos of this avalanche from yesterday on Double Hill while there was a brief period of clear weather.
It looked like much of Double Hill went through a natural avalanche cycle with some crowns filled back in and debris piles at the bottom of some slopes.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates
