Quick report
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Facets will be a problem this weekend</p>
Facets are staying dry, cold and weak on northerly facing slopes even at relatively low elevations like 8600'
Did a PST (propagation saw test) which can show if a weak layer will propagate a crack by initiating the crack with a saw. It wants to fracture but can't because the slab of last week's new snow breaks first which arrests the fracture. There have been some slides in the Uintas like one Craig looked at where a little more snow and wind drifted snow created enough of a slab to help communicate that fracture.
Photo below shows how the slab fractured as I cut the weak layer underneath it.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>PWL is there but not a problem in many places until more snow comes this weekend and next week.</p>
Damp surface snow in many places. Snow surface 30 degrees F and barely dry in the shade. Snow temps near the surface (distance from top down):
5 cm: 28 deg F
10 cm: 28 deg F
15 cm: 25 deg F
20 cm: 24 deg F
25 cm: 23 deg F