Quick report
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>No red flags at the mid elevations, snow fell on dirt. I only made it to 6500', breaking trail from 5200' at the valley floor. One set of atv tracks on the chalk creek road, looked like it got stuck a bit below 6000' due to deep snow.</p> <p>red flag is based on what I saw in the tushers last week, a 4-5" thick layer of weak loose facets at the base of the snow pack. I wold speculate that there is hazard in areas of preexisting snow on high elevation northerly aspects. </p>
Photo, a different kind of competition in Fillmore, the start of the chalk creek road. Skis did prevail after 1000' when the snow got too deep for ATVs.
My danger rating is based on a worst case scenario for the upper elevations. Low in the low and mid elevations.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>With the lack of data in Southwest Utah, I think it is worth mentioning that the high elevation snowpack is similar to what I saw in the Wasatch this past weekend and with over an inch of water added to a weak underlaying snowpack, I would expect a considerable danger. I would guess that it will turn into a persistent slab issue.</p> <p>Normal early season caution is warranted due to the thin snowpack. I stuck to dirt road skiing today. This will apply to anywhere in Southwest Utah.</p>
7" in town at 5100' yesterday in town. Some damp snow in town, dry above the valley floor.
12" above 6000' - settled depth, likely more before settlement. Snow remained dry on all aspects above 5500'.
Pine creek snotel site in the high country reporting over an inch of water and 14" new, currently a 22" HS.