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Observation: Snake Creek

Observation Date
4/1/2025
Observer Name
B
Region
Provo » Snake Creek
Location Name or Route
Snake Creek
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Strong WNW Winds with Extreme Gusts in the upper elevations. Intense Wind Blown observed from early morning to 1500 upon exiting. Periods of S4 with intermittent storm impulses and averaging S2 throughout the day. Temperatures remained unseasonably cold for April 1. Skies began to clear off at the lower elevations by 1500 and there were periods of bright solar for the remainder of the day intermixed with occasional snow squalls.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Day started with HN24 of 25cm, and there was at least another additonal 20cm that fell throughout the day at the upper elevations. HN24 at 8000' at the beginning of the day was 15cm with an additional 20cm that fell during the day. Excellent riding conditions on all aspects until exiting at 1500. The new snow and wind were filling in tracks and the skin trail all day long. The sun came out around 1515 effecting the S, SW and W at least at mid and lower elevations. Westerly exposed ridgelines at the upper elevations were Wind Scoured.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Poor Structure confined to Density Break within the new snow that was anywhere from 15cm to 25cm down depending on the time of day. This slight density inversion did not adversely effect the riding conditions, but it was easily identified and just kept getting deeper with the additional new snow as it fell. The weak layer was a light density layer that fell early in the storm overnight. Reports from mid BCC indicated a Widespread Shallow/Soft Slab/Storm Slab Cycle mid day and this appeared to be running on the same storm break weakness observed in Snake Creek. No avalanche activity observed due to very poor visibility. Rapid Warming confined to the lower mid elevations and the lower elevations in the late afternoon when the intense April sun came out.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
See above for observed Wind Velocities; and the upper elevation remote weather stations are still registering Strong/Extreme WNW Winds at the time of this writing.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Dry Loose Touchy in the beginning of the day out of the wind effected terrain on all steep slopes and aspects. See above regarding the Storm Slab issues.
Considerable Danger confined to the Wind Loaded upper elevation terrain on all aspects due to the Extreme Gusts and Strong sustained velocites. Moderate hazard on Mid and Low elevations.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates