Sign Up for the Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop (USAW) on December 7th!

Observation: Uintas

Observation Date
12/22/2022
Observer Name
Mike J
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Lower Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Comments
I got out this afternoon and found about 5” of new snow in wind sheltered terrain above 9500ft. Lower altitude meadows had close to a foot while NW facing terrain was scoured exposing previously covered rocks. There was quite a bit of wind loading on the northeast terrain I spent my afternoon with breakable crust just below the ridgeline. Dropping down below the ridgeline about 50 feet the snow was creamy and supportive on skis. I saw this skin that slid last night during the storm on a NE facing slope at 9900ft. It was wider than I expected, approximately 400 ft, considering how thin the new snow was. Maybe it slid in sections. The new snow skin ran around 50ft and would have been manageable.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable