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Observation Date
12/10/2016
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Millcreek
Location Name or Route
Mill Creek
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
The storm finally arrived here on the north slope this morning with strong winds and wet dense snow. Temperatures were fairly mild today, despite the snow and very gusty southwest winds.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Wet dense snow at the trailhead, but a little less heavy and dense with some elevation. The snowpack right now is somewhat upside down with wet dense snow on top along with some stiff wind slab and all this is resting on last weeks cold light density snow.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
The winds were the big ticket today with strong southwest winds even getting into the lower terrain. I was finding some isolated 1 finger dense wind slabs as I traveled around the Mill Creek area today. Lots of cracking within the new snow, but the fresh wind slabs were not overly sensitive early in the day.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
What a fun day being out in the storm watching the new snow blown around creating fresh wind slabs that were anywhere from 8 to 18" deep. These were easily cracking out around sled tracks and small test slopes.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
The new snow and strong winds were not enough to activate some of the buried weaker snow, but this will likely change as the storm continues through the night.
Comments
1. The Mill Creek area usually has some of the weakest snow conditions, but I was finding slightly damp sugary weak snow near the ground. A few places around rocks and stumps you could locate dry weak sugary snow. 2. The riding conditions are beginning to improve and local riders are venturing off the beaten path.
1. It was easy today to observe the cracking within the new snow, by riding above someones track. 2. These fresh wind drifts were somewhat dense and I could only get 1 finger to push into these. These are sitting on the previous weeks cold light density snow and may not adjust to the added weight so quickly.
1. Up along the ridge line today, it was pretty clear which direction the winds were blowing the snow into fresh wind slabs. 2. In this pit, the weakest snow was just off the ground, but there was not enough added weight yet to see any cracks propagate across a column of snow.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable