Observation Date
12/12/2014
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Millcreek
Location Name or Route
Mill Creek
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Scattered clouds, another day with mild temperatures and strong winds from the south.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Early season conditions on the east side of the north slope. Just a little more than a foot of snow on the ground with much of the snow pack consisting of weak faceted snow. The slopes that have been getting the warm sun have some damp facets near the ground, but those slopes that are in the shade have dry, cold and more developed weak snow. Not much of slab out there right now, but once it decides to snow this would be a place where avalanches are more likely.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
What little snow there is out there, the strong south winds were finding enough loose surface snow to blow around and create some dense wind slabs. Some of these would crack while walking around the exposed ridgelines today.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Plenty of strong winds today that were even getting into the lower areas of the drainages. I would suspect with more wind and snow forecasted, shallow, but sensitive wind slabs would be a concern for tomorrow.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
There could be some isolated areas where the snow and wind could overload the weak snow pack, but the snow amounts seem to be on the lighter side.
Comments
Fairly typical early season snow conditions on the east side in the Mill Creek area. I did not venture off the road and even then the snow depth is still quite thin.
Just a little more than a foot of snow in this area. The north facing terrain that is in shade, has cold dry faceted snow near the ground. I observed no real alarming test results in this snow pit.
A combination of warm sun and strong winds have created some meager snow conditions along south facing ridge lines in the Mill Creek area.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
