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Observation: Snake Creek

Observation Date
12/25/2022
Observer Name
B
Region
Salt Lake » Snake Creek
Location Name or Route
Snake Creek Canyon
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Rapid Warming throughout the day with daytime highs hitting unseasonable temperatures. Winds remained mostly calm except on the exposed ridgeline. Light Wind Blown Observed with visible transport at the upper elevation ridge lines due to the Westerly winds.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Hard to call the riding condition Powder, but there were still very good turning conditions on the Polar aspects above 9000 feet.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Poor Structure still able to be identified on the Polar aspects, but obviously these buried weak layers from the November Dry Spell are Unreactive. Widespread Wet Loose Cycle occurred throughout the day with even the upper mid elevations experiencing natural activity on the southerly aspects. From 8500 and below widespread natural Wet Loose activity observed on all aspects. Of Note: There is a serious Roof Avalanche situation on many mountain structures. Many children will be playing outside on Monday and extreme caution should be given to any remaining roofs that have not avalanched. There is at least 30 cm of solid ice at its base of many of these hanging roof slabs. These are skull crushing avalanches and there are many more of them that will likely shed today.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Much of the Wet Loose activity played itself out on the 25th, but there may still be additional potential for more Wet Loose activity, especially on mid elevation northerly facing aspects.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
There are many fairly large overhanging Cornices out there and with the forecast for near record high temperatures on Monday, it may be Possible for some of these to Naturally release.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates