Quick report
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>The major red flag of now is the rain crust but it does not have a slab on top. Weak snow observed below and above the crust.</p>
The photo below is from Storm Mountain today at 9,600ft. The video is from Cardiff fork yesterday, Tuesday 20200211. I have been finding this rain crust in all areas I have traveled in the last few days from the Storm area to Cardiff fork. I am calling this layer the Feb. 7th rain crust. However, there are reports from friends coming in that they are not finding the crust up high in BCC and LCC. Elevation issue? Reports are coming in from White Pine drainage that the crust is up to 10,500ft... This issue seems widespread and something I am trying to track as I travel in different elevations throughout the Wasatch. What I do know is where this crust is found, there are weak near surface facets forming above and below the crust which at the moment is not dangerous. All we need now is the last necessary ingredient on top, the slab... When this layer is buried it could fail above the rain crust which will act as a very slick bed surface or below the rain crust (bigger load) which will make avalanches super connected. Heads up as we head into our next active pattern later this weekend.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Avoid old stubborn wind drifts on the steep, exposed, and unsupported areas in the upper elevations.</p>
Rain crust found to the top of Storm mountain at 9,600 ft on all aspects. Souths had a surface melt-freeze crust.
Note: The video below is from Cardiff fork yesterday 20200211 with powder and near surface facets on the surface and below the rain crust 5 inches down.