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Observation: Uintas

Observation Date
5/20/2017
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
West of Hwy 150
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Clear morning with increasing clouds and warmer temps. After a wet cool and unsettled week, it felt more like spring today.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
The new snow from this week saw it's first hit of direct sun and it did not take long for the surface snow to become damp and gloppy. Wet point releases were going off around mid~morning and stacking up heavy wet snow. I was finding faceted loose snow on a firm crust on northwest facing slopes that was riding and turning quite well.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
Quick warm~up and new snow made for wet unstable conditions starting on east facing slopes.
Comments
It was a nice day to get up high and check~out the views of the High Uintas.
1. This past weeks wet and cold weather had an east/northeast flow and as a result northwest facing slopes had the best riding and turning. Surface sluffing of loose faceted snow was a minor issue on moderate angled slopes, but could be a bigger problem in steeper terrain. 2. Don't like to show turns, but thought the photo of minor surface sluffing was ok to post.
Wet loose sluffing was going off as early as mid~morning as the new snow was getting it's first direct sun.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None