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Observation: Weber Canyon

Observation Date
1/26/2017
Observer Name
jg
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon » Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Sun tried peeking out on and off during the afternoon. On and off snow but very little accumulation. Temps in the low teens at 9K.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Still a fair amount of cracking and collapsing today with a few good audible whoopfs and a couple of collapses where you could actually feel the slab drop under your feet.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments

Where we traveled, in low, mid and higher elevation sheltered terrain, the persistent slab issue was the biggest and really the only problem we had to deal with. We were finding buried surface hoar at all elevations traveled.

Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
9,800'
Slope Angle
26°
Comments

Long running cracks.

Traveled from 7400-10K, north half of the compass.

Still finding lots for buried and preserved surface hoar.

The storm slab is becoming more cohesive and we were getting large areas of connected snow to collapse and I can see a potential for avalanches becoming larger due to the increased connectivity of the slab. ECT and CT scores were in the easy to easy/moderate category with clean shears. Sun and warmer temps will be the other factor to be aware of in the next day or two.

Still feeling like there is a considerable danger in terrain similar to where we were traveling, places where surface hoar formed but wasn't knocked back by the wind. Tricky conditions.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable