Observation Date
3/14/2025
Observer Name
Collett
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North
Location Name or Route
Mill D North
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Snow rates of S2 tapering off to S1 by 800 AM. Outside of sheltered terrain winds were moderate gusting strong out to of the N/NW. Winds seemed to be ramping up.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
14"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
About 30-35 cm HN that was mostly upright. I say mostly becasue there was a 5 cm layer of slab of denser snow/graupel/rimed precip particles on the surface that seemed to be from the last couple hours.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
Over 12" snow and 1" SWE in the last 24 hour and still dumping is definitely red flag worthy. Easy to trigger shallow soft slabs and dry loose within the new snow on test slopes. Winds were rapidly transporting new snow and creating harder drifts. Cracking observed in new wind drifts.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Winds were cranking and moving a ton of snow, and creating wind slabs. I'd expect you'd find the largest avalanches in the wind zone today. Increasing danger trend as winds do not seem to be letting up.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Overall new snow seemed to be bonding well with old snow surfaces on many aspects from S to N facing. New snow seemed mostly upright aside from the density inversion in the upper couple inches. On test slopes it was easy to trigger small dry loose and soft slabs on the upper density inversion.
Comments
Overall the new snow intabilites seemed to be the main conern this morning with wind slabs being the biggest concern. In sheltered terrain the powder skiing is A+.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates
