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Observation: Days Fork

Observation Date
3/24/2024
Observer Name
Gagne
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork
Location Name or Route
Days Fork
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Typical spring regime of weather: some sun, clouds, and a few periods of very heavy snowfall.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
16"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
40 cms (16") at the mid and upper elevations of Day Fork. Some greenhousing affecting the snow below about 8,000'. Some wind-drifting at upper elevations from the northwest winds.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Red Flags Comments
The snow quickly became more reactive during any period of heavy snowfall, but it would almost just as quickly settle out.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Comments
Very easy to initiate sluffing in the top 15 cms of snow on any slope steeper than 35°.Ski cuts were very effective with this problem, and a ski cut on top of a steeper pitch would easily get a sluff to move below you. The sluffs weren't moving that fast, but there were debris piles up to 1 meter on the uphill sides of trees. The storm snow wasn't a cohesive slab, so these sluffs weren't propagating more than a meter or two. The weak layer seemed to be a density inversion down 10-15 cms and this should settle out within a day or so.
With unsettled weather forecast for much of this week, avalanche danger will increase during any period of heavier precipitation but likewise should settle out fairly quickly. We are in a typical spring pattern this week and you just need to be aware of quickly changing conditions. The things I'll be looking for this week:
1. Quick spike in avalanche danger during any period of heavier snowfall.
2. Possible wind drifting from north/northwest winds. With plenty of loose snow available for transport, wind drifts will quickly develop with any increase in wind.
3. Strong, direct sunshine that will quickly change the stability of the snow where it may instantly become reactive with loose, wet avalanches.
Photos of sluffing and debris piles on the uphill sides of trees.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates