avalanche advisory

Utah Avalanche Center · Jan 6, 2006

January 6, 2006 - 7:12 am   The avalanche danger is MODERATE today on slopes steeper than 35 degrees, above about 9,500, facing northwest through north through east. There are isolated places where a person could trigger a deep, dangerous slide. With daytime heating, the avalanche danger of wet loose sluffs will rise to MODERATE on steep slopes when the snow heats up. The danger is generally LOW below about 9,500 (8,500 in the Ogden area mountains) and on slopes less steep than 35 degrees.

Little Cottonwood Canyon will be closed from approximately 11 am to noon today to sight in artillery from the Tanners slide path up canyon through Little Pine. Please do not travel in these south facing slide paths today.

Evelyn Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Glossary 24 Hrs Explosive work yesterday pulled out 3 more deep slides in the backcountry and at resorts. They were all on northeasterly facing slopes, above about 9,500. Two slides ran to the ground, one about 100 wide and the other, Cardiac ridge, about 500 wide and 7 to 10 deep. The third slide was in American Fork, and ran on a lower pack weakness, and was about 200 wide. Once again, there are only isolated places where the weight of a person could trigger one of these deeper slides, but if you do, it would be basically unsurvivable. So choose your lines carefully today, and avoid shallower, rocky areas, or heavily wind drifted slopes. Many moderate and bold lines were skied without incident yesterday.

10 Hrs Day time heating will again initiate a round of wet loose sluffs on steep sunny slopes. As high thin clouds drift through, the snow may also heat up on northerly facing slopes, and sluffs will also be possible on the shady aspects. Cornices are getting sensitive with the heating.



See above for the big slides. A shallower, new snow slide was also triggered yesterday in very steep terrain off Tuscarora, 1 to 2 deep, again on an east facing, high elevation slope. There is the potential for the weight of a smaller new snow slide to trigger a deeper slide. Its going to be a sizzler today, with a few upper elevation mountain stations already hitting 40 degrees at 6 am. The coolest temperatures are in the valley bottoms within the temperature inversion. Winds are from a southwesterly direction, in the 10 to 15 mph range.    Under clear skies, the sunny slopes will have nasty, breakable crusts early before turning to slop later this morning. Good settled powder remains on shady, wind sheltered slopes.

High pressure directly over Utah will bring record breaking temperatures to the mountains today. Temperatures will rise into the mid 40s at 10,000 and into the mid 50s at 8,000. The southwesterly winds will be light, less than 15 mph, and high thin clouds will drift through at times. On Saturday, clouds and winds will increase ahead of a small disturbance that could bring a few inches of snow Saturday night into Sunday.

Regional Snow Profile (this profile can also be found daily off our home page under avalanche products)

Click here for Seasonal Weather History Charts.

Yesterday, Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in Cardiff, Grizzly and American Fork. Today, they will be in White Pine, Mill Creek, Cardiff, Days, Silver, Grizzly and American Fork. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions you observe. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. (You must re-sign up this season even if you were on the list last season.)

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Little Cottonwood road, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Brett Kobernik will update this advisory by 7:30 Saturday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Jan 7, 2006

January 7, 2006 - 7:21 am There is a MODERATE avalanche danger at elevations above about 9,000 feet for both fresh wind drifts and deep slab avalanches. Below 9,000 feet and on southerly facing slopes at all elevations the danger is generally LOW.

Kobernik

(FOR TEXT ONLY VERSION CLICK HERE)

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Glossary 24 Hrs There was enough loose snow around for yesterdays winds to transport somewhat. Overnight winds will have done the same. Today you will want to look for fresh wind drifts. For the most part I dont think these will play a huge roll but these drifts along with some spotty weakness in the upper portion of the snowpack would make me pay close attention in the upper elevation terrain today.

24 Hrs As far as deep slab avalanches most avalanche workers agree that youd have to be pretty unlucky to trigger a slide that breaks deep into early season weak snow but there is still a chance. Id still take caution in areas that have a thin, cold snowpack. Suspect areas include higher elevation terrain where you were not able to travel earlier in the season due to lack of snow but now is covered.

Friday was a fairly quiet day with not much avalanche activity. One natural loose wet slide did trigger a slab avalanche on Cardiac ridge which was about 12 deep and 60 wide and sheared at a graupel layer. This slab does demonstrate some weakness in the upper level of the snowpack but with each new day itll be harder to get this layer to shear. I also found this weakness while traveling from Wolverine through Days Fork and this layer is more then likely the culprit from the 1 to 2 foot deep slide on Tuscarora that was released from a ski cut a couple days ago.

Temperatures have been warm over the past few days forming crusts on east, south and west facing slopes. You didnt need too much of a northerly component before you found settled powder on Friday. Moderate wind speeds on Friday did transport some snow at the higher elevations. Youll also find a melt freeze crust on many aspects below about 8000 or 8500 feet especially in treed areas. Temperatures remained warm overnight and are now starting to drop, currently averaging in the mid 30s at 10,000 and the mid 40s at 7000. Winds have been picking up and are into the 20 to 30 mph range from the southwest with numerous gusts between 60 and 70 at the highest elevations.

Weve already seen the high temperature for the day and temperatures will continue to decrease today and tonight. Ridgetop temperatures will be around freezing and drop into the upper 20s by this afternoon. Ridgetop winds will be blustery in the 30 to 40 mph range from the southwest this morning and decreasing a bit late in the day. Skies will be mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow showers during the day.

Tonight brings a better chance of snow with about 6 or better expected by sometime on Sunday. (CLICK HERE FOR A TEXT ONLY VERSION)

Regional Snow Profile (this profile can also be found daily off our home page under avalanche products)

Click here for Seasonal Weather History Charts.

Yesterday, Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in Cardiff, Grizzly and American Fork. Today, they will be in White Pine, Mill Creek, Cardiff, Days, Silver, Grizzly and American Fork. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions you observe. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. (You must re-sign up this season even if you were on the list last season.)

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Little Cottonwood road, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Brett Kobernik will update this advisory by 7:30 Saturday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Jan 10, 2006

January 10, 2006 - 6:39 am The avalanche danger is LOW in most locations however a MODERATE danger does exist in the steep wind loaded upper elevation terrain. You will most likely find these pockety wind drifts on north through southeast facing slopes.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Glossary 24 Hrs For today the main concern will be any fresh wind drifts that may have formed over the last 24 hours. Although the wind didnt pick up a whole lot, the light density snow on the surface was transported very easily with many plumes being noted in the afternoon on Monday. For the most part these wont be large enough to bury a person but if you do trigger one, you more then likely will have to be on a steep slope so take into consideration the consequences if you do pop one of these slabs out and it takes you for a ride.

Sluffing of the new snow on steeper slopes was the main concern on Monday. There were a few reports of slab avalanches that pulled out naturally during the storm and also a couple from ski cuts. These were class one slides at around 8 to 12 deep that didnt pose a real great threat.

Ridgetop temperatures are around 20 degrees give or take a little and ridgetop winds are in the 15 to 20 mph range from a westerly direction. Yesterdays clear skies made the snow surface on southerly through west facing slopes become damp and will have a crust this morning.

For today well see partly cloudy skies with clouds increasing in the afternoon. Ridgetop temperatures will be in the mid to upper 20s and ridgetop winds will be in the 15 mph range from the southwest.

The next storm is still looking promising with a good amount of moisture and cold air. Well be in a westerly flow on Wednesday shifting to northwest Wednesday night. Wednesday night into Thursday will be the period with the heaviest snowfall. 1 to 2 feet of snow is possible.

Bruce Tremper will be giving a free talk at the SLC REI tonight at 7pm called the Science of Avalanches.

The 3rd Annual Backcountry Awareness Week Fundraising Dinner for the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center and our Know Before You Go program is at the Snowbird Cliff Lodge on February 3, 2006 - 6:00pm. For more info, call 933-2147 or go to www.backcountryawareness.com.

(CLICK HERE FOR A TEXT ONLY VERSION)

Regional Snow Profile (this profile can also be found daily off our home page under avalanche products)

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides were in the Bountiful Sessions, American Fork, and Lambs Canyon yesterday and today theyll be in Mineral, Cardiff, Days, Silver, Grizzly, American Fork, Lambs Canyon and the Bountiful Sessions. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. (You must re-sign up this season even if you were on the list last season.)

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Little Cottonwood road, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Bruce Tremper will update this advisory by 7:30 Wednesday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Jan 11, 2006

January 11, 2006 - 6:51 am The avalanche danger is MODERATE this morning on steep slopes with recent deposits of wind drifted snow and I expect the avalanche danger to rise to CONSIDERABLE by tonight and on Thursday with the addition of about a foot of new snow with strong windsForecaster: Bruce Tremper

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Glossary 24 Hrs Today will be one of those days with rapidly rising avalanche danger. Wind will probably be the biggest problem today with the addition of new snow the biggest problem overnight and on Thursday. Strong winds from the west-southwest will certainly create some both soft and hard wind slabs especially in upper elevation wind exposed terrain. As usual, you should avoid any steep slope with recent wind drifts. They will look smooth and rounded and often feel slabby or sound hollow.

24 Hrs The second avalanche problem will be from the new snow that will pile up quickly later this afternoon and tonight. You should regularly test how well the new snow is bonding to the underlying snow by jumping on test slopes and digging down with your hand.

Yesterday, a skier triggered and was caught in a soft, wind slab on a steep, northeast-facing slope on Tuscarora Peak (between Alta and Brighton). It was 1.5-2’ deep and he rode it 100 feet before self-arresting into the bed surface. He lost skis but is otherwise OK. Also, yesterday, in the heat of the day a glide avalanche released naturally off the steep rock slabs in Broad’s Fork about 2’ deep and 50’ wide.

Ridge top winds have been blowing hard all night from the west-southwest around 20-30 and gusting to 40 and 50. It’s also warm with ridge top temperatures 25-30 degrees. Our next storm has just arrived and snow started falling early this morning with 3 inches in the Logan mountains and only an inch accumulated so far in the Salt Lake mountains. Most of the snow from the storm should arrive tonight. The snow surface conditions yesterday included 6-10 inches of soft powder on the wind and sun sheltered slopes that made for some nice riding and there was a sun crust on the sun exposed slopes. Yesterday’s southwest winds created some localized wind slabs mostly along the upper elevation, wind-exposed slopes.

The first piece of the storm is arriving this morning with strong winds from the southwest and perhaps three inches of snow. Then, we may get a break in the middle of the day before the main cold front arrives later this afternoon and tonight. We should have heavy snow and strong winds overnight—40 gusting to 60—as the cold front passes. Ridge top winds should die down to round 20 mph on Thursday morning. Snow should end by about mid morning on Thursday. New snow should add up to around a foot in most parts of the Wasatch Range by mid day on Thursday. Ridge top temperatures are around freezing this morning but should cool to 25 degrees by evening and down to 12 degrees by Thursday morning.For the extended forecast, we have another storm for about Sunday and Monday, which looks like most of the energy going south with less strong ridge top winds.Other mountain weather information can be found here.

Regional Snow Profile (this profile can also be found daily off our home page under avalanche products)

Click here for Seasonal Weather History Charts.

3rd Annual Backcountry Awareness Week Monday Jan 30-Sunday February 5Fundraising Dinner February 3rd at 6pm with speakers Conrad Anker and Apa Sherpa. For more info, go to www.backcountryawareness.com or call Snowbird at 922-2147.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. (You must re-sign up this season even if you were on the list last season.)

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Little Cottonwood road, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides were in Silver Fork and American Fork yesterday and they will not fly today because of weather. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Evelyn Lees will update this advisory by 7:30 Thursday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Jan 12, 2006

January 12, 2006 - 7:09 am The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on any steep slope with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. The wind drifts are most widespread along the exposed ridgelines and in mid and upper elevation terrain. Out of the wind affected terrain, the avalanche danger is generally LOW.

OGDEN area mountains: The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on all slopes steeper than about 35 degrees, especially with recent drifts of wind blown snow. Human triggered avalanches are probable and natural avalanches possible.

Forecaster:Evelyn Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Glossary 24 Hrs In both mid and upper elevation terrain, the strong winds have blown the new snow into sensitive drifts one to two feet deep that should be easy to trigger on steep slopes. The fresh drifts of snow will be both along the ridges and down off the ridgelines, cross loaded around terrain features such as gully walls, sub ridges and breakovers. The dense drifts may be pockety in nature due to the gusty winds, and cornices could be sensitive.

No avalanche activity was reported from the backcountry today.

Its all or nothing today. In wind sheltered terrain, there will be well behaved powder that is generally well bonded to the old snow. In this terrain the avalanche danger is generally low; though do expect some sluffing of the new snow on steep slopes. It will be a different story in the more wind exposed terrain - see above.

A winter storm raced through the Wasatch overnight, leaving a decent shot of snow in its wake. The Logan and most of the Ogden area mountains received a generous foot, the Cottonwoods about 9, with snow amounts then tapering to 5 to 8 on the Park City side and 3 at the mid elevations in the Provo mountains. Winds have been moderate to strong throughout the storm, ranging from the southwest to northwest. Currently, the winds are averaging 15 mph with gusts into the 30s at most stations, though across the highest peaks, averages are still in the 40s. The dense, but loose, cold powder should make for very good turning and riding conditions in wind sheltered terrain, especially on shady slopes with underlying soft snow. The terrain along the higher ridgelines and in open bowls is wind affected.

A few light snow showers and locally strong winds across the highest peaks will continue early this morning. Then the air mass will stabilize, and skies will become mostly clear and the northwesterly winds decreasing to less than 15 mph by afternoon. Temperatures will be in the mid teens at 10,000 and the upper 20s at 8,000. Friday will be mostly sunny and much warmer, with 10,000 highs in the low 30s. A couple more storms are lined up to affect northern Utah, with the first to arrive Saturday night.

3rd Annual Backcountry Awareness Week Monday Jan 30-Sunday February 5Fundraising Dinner February 3rd at 6pm with speakers Conrad Anker and Apa Sherpa. For more info, go to www.backcountryawareness.com or call Snowbird at 933-2147.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. (You must re-sign up this season even if you were on the list last season.)

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Little Cottonwood road, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides were in Days Fork yesterday, and today when it clears they will be in Cardiff, Days, Silver, and Grizzly with a second ship in American Fork or the Sessions. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Brett Kobernik will update this advisory by 7:30 Friday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Jan 13, 2006

January 13, 2006 - 6:50 am Today the avalanche danger is generally LOW however a MODERATE danger does exist in steep upper elevation terrain with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. You will most likely find these on northeast through southeast facing slopes. Also, with climbing temperatures, there will be a MODERATE danger of wet avalanches on southeast through southwest facing slopes.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Glossary 24 Hrs Today, you may still be able to find a wind slab that might pop out with the weight of a person. Continue to watch for pillowy drifts and perform slope cuts before diving in.

8 Hrs A second consideration for today will be warming temperatures. Many of the southerly facing slopes did not heat up yesterday but higher temperatures today will change that. Be on the lookout for damp snow with rollerballs and pinwheeling which suggest the snow is changing and may become unstable.

I received a gazillion observations from the Tri Canyons this morning with almost everyone of them reporting skier triggered soft slab avalanches. (Click here for photos) The equation for this was quite simple: 10 inches of fresh snow plus significant winds yield sensitive wind slabs. A few of these avalanches were large enough that you wouldnt want to get caught by them but most of them were a manageable size with slope cuts being quite effective. Ridgetop temperatures are on their way up from overnight lows in the single digits and are now around 20 degrees. Ridgetop winds calmed down over the last 12 hrs and are in the 10 mph range from the west. The current snow surface is settled powder with some wind affected areas along the ridgelines. Some southerly facing slopes will have a melt freeze crust. For today well see mostly clear skies with ridgetop temperatures climbing into the 30s by this afternoon. Ridgetop winds will start out in the 10 mph range from the southwest and gradually increase into the 20s by around dark. On Saturday temperatures will start to cool somewhat and ridgetop winds will increase into the 30 mph range from the southwest. A storm will start to affect the area Saturday night with a cold front moving through and a good chance for snow through Sunday.

3rd Annual Backcountry Awareness Week Monday Jan 30-Sunday February 5Fundraising Dinner February 3rd at 6pm with speakers Conrad Anker and Apa Sherpa. For more info, go to www.backcountryawareness.com or call Snowbird at 933-2147.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. (You must re-sign up this season even if you were on the list last season.)

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Little Cottonwood road, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides were in Cardiff, Days, The Emmas and Grizzly yesterday, and today they will be in Cardiff, Days, Silver, and Grizzly and American Fork. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Evelyn Lees will update this advisory by 7:30 Friday morning.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Jan 14, 2006

January 14, 2006 - 7:04 am   Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE on steep slopes with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. Outside of wind affected terrain, the avalanche danger is generally LOW.

Special avalanche statement: The avalanche danger will increase rapidly tonight through Monday as a strong storm system impacts the northern Utah mountains. Strong winds and heavy snowfall will create a Considerable to High avalanche danger Sunday into Monday.

Forecaster: Evelyn Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Glossary 24 Hrs Today, fresh wind drifts will be the avalanche problem. The strong winds will be blowing and drifting the snow, and these new drifts will deepen and become more widespread and sensitive through out the day. These drifts will be most widespread on north through easterly facing slopes, and could also develop at mid elevations and off the ridgelines.

There were two unintentionally triggered avalanches in the backcountry yesterday, a soft slab in upper White Pine and a loose snow slide on Superior. Both people took rides, but they came out on top and were ok. Conditions were more sensitive in the American Fork drainage, with multiple intentional skier triggered soft slabs up to a foot deep on steep north through east facing slopes. (Ogden soft slab avalanche)

The combination of strong winds and intermittent cloud cover should keep a lid on damp snow activity today. But if the sun pops out this afternoon or the snow becomes damp or sloppy on the slope where you are, switch to a slope with cooler snow or stay on low angle terrain.

A strong, southwesterly flow will be over the area today ahead of the next storm system. Temperatures have warmed into the low 30s at 9,500, and the southwesterly winds are averaging 15 to 25 mph, with gusts into the 40 and 50s. The sunny slopes will definitely be crusted today, and wind damaged areas will be expanding. Your best bet for powder will be on wind sheltered shady slopes.

A potent storm system will reach northern Utah late this evening. Ahead of the storm, it will be warm and blustery today, with southwesterly ridgetop winds averaging 25 to 35 mph, with gusts commonly in the 40s and 50s. Temperatures today will reach the low 40s at 8,000 and be near 30 at 10,000.   Increasing clouds tonight, with snow, heavy at times, developing after midnight. 4 to 9 of snow is possible by morning, with an additional 8 to 14 expected on Sunday. Snow showers could continue into Monday morning. Another moist storm system is expected around Wednesday.

3rd Annual Backcountry Awareness Week Monday Jan 30-Sunday February 5Fundraising Dinner February 3rd at 6pm with speakers Conrad Anker and Apa Sherpa. For more info, go to www.backcountryawareness.com or call Snowbird at 933-2147.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. (You must re-sign up this season even if you were on the list last season.)

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Little Cottonwood road, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides were in Silver, Days, Grizzly and American Fork yesterday, and today they will be in Cardiff, Days, Silver,and White Pine, with a second ship in the Sessions or Cascade. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Drew Hardesty will update this advisory by 7:30 Sunday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Jan 17, 2006

January 17, 2006 - 6:45 am For today the avalanche danger is generally LOW. You will find areas along the upper elevation ridges where the danger of triggering a fresh wind drift is MODERATE. You will find these drifts mainly on northeast through southeast facing slopes steeper then 35 degrees.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Glossary 12 Hrs With a few reports of drifting snow from yesterday and slightly higher wind speeds overnight, today fresh wind drifted snow will be the main concern. The very light density snow that fell over the weekend is prone to transport and can easily form sensitive drifts on lees slopes. With lower elevation wind speeds not doing much, Id expect to see these drifts mainly at the higher elevations on northeast through southeast facing slopes. These drifts may not prove to be very sensitive however; any fresh wind drifts are suspect until proven otherwise. While traveling today, stomp on drifts in safe areas along ridges to check for cracking. Also, use slope cuts before just diving into steeper slopes.

Sluffing and a few small wind slabs at upper elevations triggered from ski cuts were reported from Monday. The mountains of northern Utah are enjoying a period with a very stable basal snowpack. With no persistent weak layers, the main concern with each new storm remains in the upper portion of the snowpack. For today well see mostly cloudy skies with ridgetop temperatures getting up into the low 20s with ridgetop wind speeds in the 15 mph range. Tonight through Thursday night will bring another storm which could produce 1 to 2 inches of water translating into a couple feet of snow.

3rd Annual Backcountry Awareness Week Monday Jan 30-Sunday February 5Fundraising Dinner February 3rd at 6pm with speakers Conrad Anker and Apa Sherpa. For more info, go to www.backcountryawareness.com or call Snowbird at 933-2147.

Check out our new graphical advisory format. You can update your bookmarks to this link:http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/newadvisory/advisory.php

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. (You must re-sign up this season even if you were on the list last season.)

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Little Cottonwood road, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides were grounded yesterday, but today theyll have one ship in American Fork and White Pine, with another ship in either Cascade or the Sessions. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Bruce Tremper will update this advisory by 7:30 Tuesday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Jan 19, 2006

January 19, 2006 - 6:59 am Salt Lake Area Mountains:Overall MODERATE danger today from lingering soft slabs and wind slabs within the new snow. Although it is not forecasted to do so, if snow or wind increases significantly throughout the day, the danger could rise to CONSIDERABLE.Provo Area Mountains:Six inches of new snow has fallen in the Provo area mountains this morning and is expected to continue through the day. As snow accumulates, the danger of soft slab avalanches will rise to CONSIDERABLE.

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Glossary 24 Hrs Salt Lake - Park City Mountains:Yesterday during the period of very heavy snowfall in the afternoon, slope cuts produced occasionally sensitive soft slab avalanches, especially on steep slopes with an ice crust underneath. I expect that with little snow or wind overnight combined with the much colder temperatures, the new snow instabilities will have settled out by today but there could be some localized, lingering soft slabs. Be sure to do good slope cuts before committing yourself to a slope.Provo Area Mountains:Six inches of new snoa has fallen in the Provo area mountains this morning and may continue through the day. As snow accumulates, the danger of soft slab avalanches will rise to CONSIDERABLE.

24 Hrs Yesterday morning, the winds blew hard from the southwest before they switched to the northwest in the afternoon PHOTO. This created some localized wind slabs on upper elevation wind exposed terrain. Although most of these will have settled out by today, there may be some lingering problems. Be sure to do good slope cuts before committing yourself to a slope. Yesterday afternoon while the snow was falling fast and furious, one avalanche worker was able to intentionally ski cut several, sensitive, soft slabs on a south facing slope in Big Cottonwood Canyon at 8,200'. These slides were around a foot deep and 100' wide and some were sympathetically triggering other avalanches. Also, yesterday during the strong wind in the morning, an avalanche worker near the Sundance Ski Resort in the Provo area mountains was able to intentionally ski cut a hard slab avalanche 1' deep x 150' wide on a steep, northeast facing slope at 9,200' PHOTO. I expect that most of these instabilities will have settled out by today, but some will still linger. In the Cottonwoods, only 2-4 inches of snow fell overnight with about a foot in the past 24 hours with 6 inches in the Provo area mountains. Snow densities are around 7 percent water weight. For those headed to the Logan area mountains, they got a couple feet of snow in the past 30 hours. The flow has switched out of the north and winds have been quite calm overnight. Ridge top winds have been 5 mph overnight from the north but have picked up to 10 mph this morning. Ridge top temperatures are cold, around 10 degrees. People reported excellent riding conditions yesterday with some moderately difficult trailbreaking. Although the airmass is very moist and unstable, the center of the low pressure is right over the top of us, and there just isn't enough wind to push the moist air up the mountains. The main plumes of snow are coming off the Great Salt Lake and going straight south and then wrapping to the east into the Provo area mountains. It's kind of like standing underneath a Brontasaurus that is doing the whirling Dervish. You are fine as long as you are right between its four legs, but it just has to move a few feet and you get smacked. It's a tricky situation because snow amounts will vary widely depending on where you are. We expect that snow will continue to be light for the Salt Lake area mountains and heavier in the Provo mountains today. Ridge top winds should be around 10 mph from the north with ridge top temperatures around 10 degrees. Down at 8,000' the high today should be around 20 degrees. I expect that snow showers should end by afternoon with good call-in-sick-for-work day on Friday. We expect a weak storm on Saturday, then warm and sunny until we get another storm a week from Today. Fundraising Dinner February 3rd at 6pm with speakers Conrad Anker and Apa Sherpa. For more info, go to http://www.backcountryawareness.com/ or call Snowbird at 933-2147.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. (You must re-sign up this season even if you were on the list last season.)

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Little Cottonwood road, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides did not fly yesterday, and if they can fly today, theyll be in Cardiff, Days, Silver, Grizzly and American Fork. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Evelyn Lees will update this advisory by 7:30 Friday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Jan 20, 2006

January 20, 2006 - 6:56 am The avalanche danger is generally LOW today. On slopes steeper than about 35 degrees, there are isolated places where a person could trigger a loose snow sluff or shallow soft slab, creating pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger.

Forecaster: Evelyn Lees Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Glossary 24 Hrs Today, it will still be possible to trigger sluffs, and in continuously steep terrain they could travel longer distances and build up decent debris piles. When the sun comes out later in the day, the snow on the steep sunny slopes may become more sensitive and sluff more easily.

There will also be a few rouge wind drifts that people could trigger. These will be soft slabs, and this problem may become more widespread later today and tomorrow as the southwesterly winds kick up. There is plenty of snow to blow around, so if the winds increase where you are later in the day, be aware of an increasing avalanche danger.

The snow pack is mostly stable, with just a few reports of new snow activity from yesterday. People were able to trigger a few loose snow sluffs on steep slopes, and there were two skier triggered soft slabs, with the largest 40 wide and about a foot deep.

A few last snowflakes are drifting down this morning under partly cloudy skies, and temperatures have dropped into the single digits at 10,000. Some areas have picked up another one to four inches of fluff, and the northwesterly winds have been remarkably well behaved. Overnight, they increased for a few hours into the 15 to 20 mph range, but this morning most stations are reporting speeds of less than 10 mph. And yes, you do want to call in sick today. Theres outstanding powder on all aspects, as yesterdays clouds protected the snow from the suns damaging rays.

After a few lingering snow flurries this morning, the mountains should see increasingly clear skies. Winds will remain light, less than 15 mph, from the northwest for most of the day. But this afternoon, they will shift to the southwest and increase ahead of the next weak storm. High temperatures today will be near 25 at 8,000 and in the low teens at 10,000. Skies will be mostly cloudy tonight and Saturday, as a weak Pacific storm brings another few inches of snow to the mountains. Then high pressure will gradually build in for the remainder of the week, with the next chance for snow around next weekend.

3rd Annual Backcountry Awareness Week Monday Jan 30-Sunday February 5Fundraising Dinner February 3rd at 6pm with speakers Conrad Anker and Apa Sherpa. For more info, go to www.backcountryawareness.com or call Snowbird at 933-2147.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. (You must re-sign up this season even if you were on the list last season.)

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Little Cottonwood road, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides did not fly yesterday, and if they can fly today, theyll be in Cardiff, Days, Silver, Mineral, Grizzly and American Fork. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Brett Kobernik will update this advisory by 7:30 Saturday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Jan 21, 2006

January 21, 2006 - 6:45 am Most areas have a LOW avalanche danger. Just enough wind and some new snow do demand a MODERATE danger on steep upper elevation wind affected slopes mainly on North through southeast aspects. Continue to practice safe backcountry protocol by sending one person at a time onto steep slopes and make sure to completely clear the runout zones.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Glossary 12 Hrs For today we need to pay attention to the snow surface. The wind did transport some snow late yesterday and, with a few inches of new expected today along with some moderate wind speeds, you may be able to find a pocket or two that might crack out along the upper ridgelines. Larger sluffs may present a few problems yet today so watch for this on the steeper slopes.

Some minor cracking and a couple of small human triggered wind pockets were reported from Friday. Also, a recent glide avalanche in Broads Fork was observed on Friday. We can’t ask for much better. The snowpack is deep and consistent in the mountains of northern Utah. Currently, we do not have any persistent weak layers however you still can get clean shears in the upper portion of the snowpack if you try hard. These shears will continue to become harder to produce over the next few days. Today we’ll see overcast skies with snow flurries adding 2 to 4 inches of new snow. Ridgetop temperatures will be in the teens and ridgetop winds will be 10 to 20 mph from the west shifting slightly northwest and decreasing this afternoon. Sunday we’ll see partial clearing then a stretch of dry weather through at least Thursday. 3rd Annual Backcountry Awareness Week Monday Jan 30-Sunday February 5Fundraising Dinner February 3rd at 6pm with speakers Conrad Anker and Apa Sherpa. For more info, go to www.backcountryawareness.com or call Snowbird at 933-2147.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. (You must re-sign up this season even if you were on the list last season.)

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Little Cottonwood road, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Yesterday the Wasatch Powderbird Guides were in Cardiff, Days, and American Fork and if they can fly today, they’ll be in Mineral, Cardiff, Days, Silver, White Pine, American Fork and Lambs Canyon. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Drew Hardesty will update this advisory by 7:30 Sunday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Jan 24, 2006

January 24, 2006 - 7:07 am The avalanche danger is MODERATE on steep upper elevation terrain with fresh deposits of wind drifted snow. Southerly slopes are the most suspect but watch for any cross loading on other aspects as well since mountainous terrain can channel winds in unexpected directions. Clear skies and warm temperatures could cause some heat related activity on Southerly facing slopes as well. The avalanche danger remains mostly LOW at mid and lower elevations.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Glossary 24 Hrs Excellent stability and snow conditions have provided a period where we can venture into the more serious terrain without too much worry. However, yesterdays winds may have ended this period as these upper elevation drifts may still be sensitive today. Remember that if you are heading into some of the more serious terrain today, you will more then likely be in terrain that will have these fresh wind slabs. The problem is not so much the chance of burial but the consequences of getting raked over rocks, cliffs or through trees.

The loose snow on the surface was easily transported into sensitive drifts on Monday. One skier took an unexpected ride on a steep south facing slope after triggering one of these drifts. He was carried about 40 feet before he was able to stop as the 12 to 18 inch deep avalanche continued on another 400 feet or so. Another skier seeing an opportunity to test a fresh drift took it and produced a SLIDE 8 to 12 inches deep on a south facing slope off of the Superior ridge. This slide then sympathetically released another soft slab on an adjacent slope. These ran 400 to 600 vertical feet. There were also a few more unconfirmed reports of other skiers triggering fresh wind slabs around the Cottonwoods. (Click here for more details on current wind slabs)

A period of unexpected strong winds headlines the news from yesterday. Ridgetop winds blew in the 20 to 30 mph range from the northeast with gusts into the 50s easily transporting loose snow into sensitive drifts. The winds have slowed and should continue to do so for the rest of the day today. Temperatures above about 8,000 are on the rise and are into the mid to upper 20s while lower elevations are in the teens.

Today well see mostly clear skies with ridgetop temperatures into the mid 30s and ridgetop winds in the 10 mph range from the east. A closed low pressure system will feed some moisture up from the south Wednesday afternoon with a slight chance for a snow shower.

The better chance for measurable snow starts late Thursday with a few systems through the weekend.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

Our mountain weather forecast can be found here by about noon each day.

3rd Annual Backcountry Awareness Week Monday Jan 30-Sunday February 5Fundraising Dinner February 3rd at 6pm with speakers Conrad Anker and Apa Sherpa. For more info, go to www.backcountryawareness.com or call Snowbird at 933-2147.

Check out our new graphical advisory format. You can update your bookmarks to this link:http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/newadvisory/advisory.php

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. (You must re-sign up this season even if you were on the list last season.)

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big and Little Cottonwood canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Yesterday the Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in American Fork and Lambs Canyon. Today, theyll hit Cardiff, Days, Silver, Mineral, Grizzly, AF, the Sessions, and Lambs Canyon. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Evelyn Lees will update this advisory by 7:30 Wednesday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Jan 25, 2006

January 25, 2006 - 6:47 am The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees with fresh drifts of wind blown snow, which will be most common at mid and upper elevations. Out of the wind affected terrain, the avalanche danger is generally LOW.

Evelyn Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Glossary 24 Hrs Yesterday, the old wind slabs seemed stubborn and unreactive, sometimes cracking out beneath the weight of a person, but not moving far. But todays winds will produce a fresh batch of drifts that may be more sensitive. So as usual, watch out for and avoid any wind deposits on steep slopes.

Yesterdays sudden plunge into spring made wet sluffs the avalanche problem of the day. Natural wet loose sluffs occurred on steep sunny slopes in the Salt Lake, Park City and Provo area mountains, and there was one skier triggered slide on a steep SW facing slope in upper White Pine. While quite shallow to start, it entrained enough snow to run 750 vertical feet, with lots of punch and a debris pile that you wouldnt want to tangle with. The combination of todays clouds, wind and cooler temperatures should put a lid on most wet activity, but if the snow gets warm and sloppy where you are, avoid steep slopes and move to a cooler aspect.

Skies are partly cloudy this morning, and the southeasterly winds picked up overnight. They are averaging 25 to 30 mph, with gusts in the 40s. Temperatures cooled off from yesterday sizzling 40s, and most stations are below freezing this morning, in the low 20s to low 30s. Very good recrystalized powder does exist on untracked, wind sheltered shady slopes, but challenging conditions are more the norm. Breakable sun crusts are widespread, and old tracks and random wind slabs will trip you up when you least expect.

A low pressure system approaching southern Utah will bring high thin clouds over the north this morning. The clouds will increase and thicken this afternoon, with a chance for a few snow flurries late today and tonight. Temperatures at 8,000 will warm into the mid 40s once again today, while at 10,000 they will remain in the mid 20s. The southeasterly winds will continue to blow in the 15 to 30 mph range across the higher ridges and peaks. A series of small Pacific storms will move across northern Utah beginning late Thursday, with the best chance for snow on Friday.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

Our mountain weather forecast can be found here by about noon each day.

3rd Annual Backcountry Awareness Week Monday Jan 30-Sunday February 5Fundraising Dinner February 3rd at 6pm with speakers Conrad Anker and Apa Sherpa. For more info, go to www.backcountryawareness.com or call Snowbird at 933-2147.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. (You must re-sign up this season even if you were on the list last season.)

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big and Little Cottonwood canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Yesterday the Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in Cardiff, Days, Mineral, Grizzly, AF, the Sessions, and Lambs Canyon. Today, theyll be in Cardiff, Days, Mineral, Grizzly, AF, the Sessions, Lambs, Porter, Alexander, Wilson and Cascade. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Bruce Tremper will update this advisory by 7:30 Thursday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Jan 26, 2006

January 26, 2006 - 6:33 am The avalanche danger is generally LOW with isolated pockets of MODERATE danger on any steep slope with a recent deposit of wind drifted snow. Forecaster: Bruce Tremper

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Glossary 24 Hrs Most folks noticed some isolated pockets of very hard, wind drifts along the ridges that were too stubborn to trigger. PHOTO With the new snow overnight, I’m sure that the winds created some isolated pockets of shallow, soft wind slabs in upper elevation wind exposed terrain but in theory, they should be easy to manage.

No one reported any significant avalanches yesterday from the backcountry.

I hate it when we only forecast 2 inches of snow and we’re right. Sure enough, only a wimpy 2 inches of new snow fell last night in the Wasatch Range with no snow falling in the mountains north of Salt Lake City. Yesterday, the winds blew hard from the south, which exacerbated the already horrid, wind-etched snow surface at tree line and above tree line. There’s still some passable soft, settled, recrystallized snow (surface hoar PHOTO) in mid and low elevation, north facing, wind sheltered slopes, but yesterday most folks—including me—were cursing the upper elevation, wind-sculpted snow. PHOTO The skiff of new snow overnight should help a little but probably not much. This morning, the ridge top temperature is in the mid 20’s and the winds have calmed down to 20 mph from the west. Click here for the Snow Page. Click here for the Snotel Water Equivalent map.

We should have partly cloudy skies today with perhaps a few light snow showers. Ridge top winds should blow 10-20 mph from the west with ridge top temperatures in the mid 20’s and 30 degrees down at 8,000’. Then we have several disturbances from the west scheduled over the next several days. The first one will arrive Friday, which should freshen us up with perhaps 6 more inches of snow. Another stronger and windier storm should arrive on Sunday with perhaps foot of snow. Then, we stay in the snow-flow with another disturbance a week from today—just the way we like it. Click here for the National Weather Service graphic Forecast.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

You can find our mountain weather forecast here by about noon each day.

3rd Annual Backcountry Awareness Week Monday Jan 30-Sunday February 5Fundraising Dinner February 3rd at 6pm with speakers Conrad Anker and Apa Sherpa. For more info, call Snowbird at 933-2147. Visit www.backcountryawareness.com for more details.

Check out our new graphical advisory format. You can update your bookmarks to this link:http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/newadvisory/advisory.php

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. (You must re-sign up this season even if you were on the list last season.)

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big and Little Cottonwood canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides did not get out yesterday due to high wind and today they will probably not have the visibility. But if they do, they will fly in Mineral, Cardiff, Days, Silver and Cascade Ridge. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Brett Kobernik will update this advisory by 7:30 Friday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Jan 27, 2006

January 27, 2006 - 6:53 am This morning the avalanche danger starts out LOW but will reach MODERATE later today if we receive the expected new snow. It is important to understand that the avalanche danger will be on the rise over the weekend.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Glossary 24 Hrs Our current focus is on the snow surface which is about to be covered up with new snow. The various crusts have the potential to act as good bed surfaces while areas that have loose, faceted snow could provide a persistent weakness that we will need to monitor over the next few storms. Most backcountry observers note this sugary snow in various places but no one is real worked up about it, however, we will consider it suspect until proven otherwise.

A few people triggered some small wind slabs on Thursday but these were fairly harmless. The largest was 30 feet wide and ran 200 feet in distance. The current snow surface is a mix of sun crusts, wind crusts, and areas of loose sugary snow. Mountain temperatures are in the mid teens to low 20s and ridgetop winds are from the south in the 15 to 25 mph range.

Today well see snow becoming heavy at times. 5 to 8 inches is expected by tonight. Ridgetop winds will blow in the 10 to 20 mph range from the south shifting more to the west as the day goes on and ridgetop temperatures will be in the mid teens. Saturday will be colder with temperatures from the low teens into single digits. Another slightly stronger storm will affect the area Saturday night along with stronger wind speeds. My guess is by Sunday well have added about 1 to 1 ½ inches total water which translates to 12 to 20 inches of total snow for these next couple of storms. Next week could be active but weather models are not in agreement right now so stay tuned for further details on these storms. Click here for the National Weather Service graphic Forecast. Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

You can find our mountain weather forecast here by about noon each day.

3rd Annual Backcountry Awareness Week Monday Jan 30-Sunday February 5Fundraising Dinner February 3rd at 6pm with speakers Conrad Anker and Apa Sherpa. For more info, call Snowbird at 933-2147. Visit www.backcountryawareness.com for more details.

Check out our new graphical advisory format. You can update your bookmarks to this link:http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/newadvisory/advisory.php

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. (You must re-sign up this season even if you were on the list last season.)

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big and Little Cottonwood canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in Cardiff, Days and American Fork. Today they will probably not have the visibility but if they do, they will fly in Mineral, Cardiff, Days, Silver, Mill Creek, American Fork and Cascade Ridge. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Evelyn Lees will update this advisory by 7:30 Saturday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Jan 28, 2006

January 28, 2006 - 7:15 am Today is a day of rising avalanche danger. This morning the avalanche danger is moderate, but it will rapidly rise to CONSIDERABLE by this afternoon due to increasing wind and additional snow. Human triggered avalanches will be probable on many steep slopes, and natural avalanches will be possible. The danger will continue to rise, and may reach HIGH overnight.

Evelyn Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Glossary 24 Hrs Be alert for a rising avalanche danger throughout the day. The strengthening winds will increase the danger even before the snow starts to fall, and any fresh wind drifts will be easy to trigger on steep slopes today. As the danger increases today, seek the safer lower angle, wind sheltered terrain and avoid travel below steep slopes.

24 Hrs Unfortunately, the current avalanche conditions are a very different beast than the stable snow of the last few weeks. All the ingredients for an active slide cycle are in place, with the complicating factor being the faceted snow. Though the slides will not be significantly deeper than new snow only activity, slides breaking out on facets have the potential to be wider, can be triggered from a distance, and have the nasty habit of breaking out above you.

Yesterday, the new snow was very sensitive through out the range, with soft sluffs and slabs easily triggered on steep slopes of most aspects. Most slides were less than 20 wide, but a few were as large as 150 wide and 18 deep. Those on southerly facing slopes with a slick underlying ice crust were running especially fast and far. Only a few of these soft, new snow slides posed any danger to a person, mainly in terrain where a ride would take you through trees or deposit you in a gully bottom. Observations indicate slides were running both within the new snow and more importantly, on faceted snow that exists on many slopes.

This morning is the calm before the storm, and just may be the time to skip the Outdoor Retailer show and catch a few face shots before full storm conditions and a rising avalanche danger arrive by late this afternoon. Snow totals were about a foot in the Ogden area mountains and in the higher elevations of the Cottonwoods, with 3 to 6 of new on the PC side and at the mid elevations of the Provo area mountains. Temperatures are currently in the mid teens to single digits, and the winds have shifted back to the southwest, generally in the 10 to 15 mph range, with gusts 25 to 30. Across the highest peaks, winds are in the 30s and 40s, with gusts into the 50s. Snowshoeing, turning and riding conditions are good on all aspects, bordering excellent on shady slopes, and low angle slopes are fast and fun.

A fast moving Pacific storm system will impact northern Utah this afternoon. Light snowfall will start north of I-80 around noon, and then spread south. We should see periods of heavy snow with strong winds by late afternoon or early evening throughout the northern Wasatch. Today, temperatures will warm into the low 20s at 8,000 and upper teens at 10,000. Winds will be from the southwest this morning in the 15 to 20 mph range, and gradually increase throughout the day. By this evening, they will shift to the northwest, and strengthen into the 30 to 35 mph range. Snowfall amounts should be in the 12 to 18 range by Sunday morning. An active weather pattern should persist into mid week, with several more disturbances bringing snow to the northern mountains.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

You can find our mountain weather forecast here by about noon each day.

3rd Annual Backcountry Awareness Week Monday Jan 30-Sunday February 5Fundraising Dinner February 3rd at 6pm with speakers Conrad Anker and Apa Sherpa. For more info, call Snowbird at 933-2147. Visit www.backcountryawareness.com for more details.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. (You must re-sign up this season even if you were on the list last season.)

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides did not fly yesterday, and today they will fly in Mineral, Cardiff, Days, Silver, Grizzly, White Pine and American Fork. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Drew Hardesty will update this advisory by 7:30 Sunday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Jan 31, 2006

January 31, 2006 - 7:05 am Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE. This means human triggered avalanches are possible. You will find these on steep upper elevation slopes where some fresh wind drifting may have occurred. Elsewhere, the avalanche danger is LOW.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Glossary 12 Hrs Warm temperatures on Monday turned the snow into not so enjoyable conditions however things did settle out nicely with no new avalanche activity reported. The winds in the afternoon did transport a small amount of snow but it looks like they calmed down about the time the new snow started falling. With only .5 to .7 inches of water added to the snowpack, even Drew aka the facet conspiracy theorist wont get worked up by this amount of new weight. However, the snowpack is quite varied under the last few storms making me dig and perform more tests on different aspects and elevations then I have been doing over the last few weeks.

The main concern for today will be with the new snow. Watch for any fresh drifts that may have formed along the upper ridgelines. As usual, cracking is a sign that you may produce a slab avalanche. Perform a few shear tests on your way up to see how the new snow bonded to the old snow surface. Sluffing of this new snow may be an issue this morning so use a few test slopes to see how it reacts when you disturb it.

No significant activity observed on Monday. Warm temperatures and some more wind headline the news from yesterday. Temperatures climbed into the upper 20s to low 30s and ridgetop winds blew in the 20 mph range with gusts to around 40 from the southwest. Winds shifted to the northwest overnight and are slowing down. Snow totals are around 3 in the Provo area at mid elevations, 7 in the Cottonwoods and 5 to 8 in the Ogden area. Densities are in the 10 percent range.

Snow showers are ending. Today ridgetop temperatures will drop into the low 20s to upper teens and ridgetop winds will be from the north northwest in the 10 to 15 mph range. Another storm will affect the area on Wednesday with fairly impressive water totals. This storm looks to be windier then last nights storm. The next chance of snow after that will be Sunday.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

You can find our mountain weather forecast here by about noon each day.

3rd Annual Backcountry Awareness Week Monday Jan 30-Sunday February 5Fundraising Dinner February 3rd at 6pm with speakers Conrad Anker and Apa Sherpa. For more info, call Snowbird at 933-2147. Visit www.backcountryawareness.com for more details.

Check out our new graphical advisory format. You can update your bookmarks to this link:http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/newadvisory/advisory.php

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. (You must re-sign up this season even if you were on the list last season.)

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides didnt get out yesterday and will fly in Mineral, Cardiff, Days, Silver, Grizzly, American Fork and Whit Pine today. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Evelyn Lees will update this advisory by 7:30 Wednesday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Feb 1, 2006

February 1, 2006 - 7:04 am The avalanche danger is increasing today due to strong winds, warming temperatures and new snow. This morning, the avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees, especially slopes with recent drifts of wind blown snow. With additional wind and snow, the danger will rise to CONSIDERABLE on steep, wind drifted slopes later today. Considerable means human triggered avalanches are probable and natural avalanches possible. Natural avalanches may also be possible at the lower elevations if it starts to rain on the snow.

Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Glossary 24 Hrs Today, the most widespread avalanche problem will be fresh wind drifts created by the strong westerly winds. These drifts will increase in depth and number throughout the day, and will be found both along the ridges and well off the ridgelines, cross loaded around gully walls, sub ridges and breakovers. Avoid any steep slope with wind drifted snow today, and stay well away from cornices as they may break back further than expected.

24 Hrs Today, in isolated places, it will be possible to trigger a deeper and more dangerous slide that takes out the snow from two or more storms. The weight of the new snow could overload some of the more deeply buried weak layers in the snowpack, including surface hoar and near surface facets. Triggering one of these larger slides will be more likely in the Ogden, Provo, Park City and Western Uinta mountains.

In last 4 days there have been at least 6 unintentionally triggered slides, failing on a variety of weak layers. This is a giant hint that the snowpack is less stable than earlier in January, and that recognizing the stability pattern is getting trickier. Yesterday, a skier in the Ogden area mountains triggered a 20 deep by 200 wide slide, failing on surface hoar. This was on a 33 to 35 degree northeast facing slope, at 7,000. (Click here for photos) There were also reports of a few, very small new snow sluffs and soft slabs.

This morning, winds and temperatures are increasing ahead of a rapidly approaching warm front. Across the ridges, the westerly winds are in the 15 to 25 mph range, with gusts in the 30s. Temperatures have warmed into the upper teens to mid 20s. Wind sheltered, shady slopes at mid and upper elevations have loose, settled powder this morning, with many other slopes sun or wind damaged. Todays new snow may be warmer and denser than the snow its landing on, creating punchy riding conditions.

A warm front is racing into northwestern Utah this morning. This could produce 4 to 8 snow, with the heaviest snowfall around the front. The westerly winds will continue to increase today, into the 30 to 40 mph range across the ridges. Temperatures will warm into the low 20s at 10,000 and the low 30s at 8,000. There could be a break in the snowfall this afternoon, before more significant snow associated with the cold front arrives this evening. 6 to 12 of snow possible tonight, with snow continuing through Thursday. A break on Friday and Saturday, with another storm possible on Sunday.

Click here for the National Weather Service graphic Forecast.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

You can find our mountain weather forecast here by about noon each day.

3rd Annual Backcountry Awareness Week Monday Jan 30-Sunday February 5Fundraising Dinner February 3rd at 6pm with speakers Conrad Anker and Apa Sherpa. For more info, call Snowbird at 933-2147. Visit www.backcountryawareness.com for more details.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE.

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides didnt get out yesterday and if the weather allows they will fly in Cardiff, Silver, Days, Grizzly, American Fork and White Pine today. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Bruce Tremper will update this advisory by 7:30 Thursday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Feb 2, 2006

February 2, 2006 - 6:49 am   The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE this morning on steep, wind drifted slopes and MODERATE on non-wind drifted slopes. With additional snow and wind this afternoon the danger may rise to CONSIDERABLE even on non wind-drifted slopes as well. Forecaster: Bruce Tremper

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs With continued heavy snow today and continued 20-30 mph ridge top winds from the northwest, you can expect to find some sensitive soft slab avalanches on steep, wind loaded terrain. When it starts snowing harder this afternoon, check how well the new snow bonds to the underling snow as it comes down.  Wind slabs will look smooth and rounded and they sometimes sound hollow like a drum. 24 Hrs Also, with all this weight added over the past week, we always have to suspect deeper avalanches breaking down into deeper weak layers. Although the deeper snowpack is quite solid in the Tri Canyons, its shallower and weaker in Ogden, Provo and the Uinta Mountains. This new snow may reactivate some lingering, deeply-buried layers of faceted snow in those areas. UDOT will do avalanche control in Little Cottonwood Canyon this morning and in Provo Canyon by about mid day. Ice climbers should avoid Provo Canyon today. Call 801-975-4838 for updates.Yesterday, avalanche control work produced just a few sensitive, soft, wind slabs on steep, wind loaded slopes but down out of the wind, the snow seemed to plaster in place fairly well. One person in Days Fork kicked off a wind slab 20 wide and 1.5 deep and dug into the bed surface to keep him from going down. It was a very wind loaded, 40 degree, north facing slope.    We found that the snow cracked easily on wind drifted slopes and we were careful to avoid steep, wind drifted terrain (PHOTO). Theres still a few tickets left for the 3rd Annual Backcountry Awareness Week Monday Jan 30-Sunday February 5Fundraising Dinner February 3rd at 6pm with speakers Conrad Anker and Apa Sherpa. For more info, call Snowbird at 933-2147. Visit www.backcountryawareness.com for more details.Our Seattle weather continued overnight with another 7 inches at upper elevations of the Cottonwood Canyons and once again, the snow was dense, around 13 percent. This makes for over an inch and a half of water weight in the past 24 hours. Yesterdays riding conditions continued to be punchy, slabby, upside-down snow but at least the visibility was poor, it was windy and the rime stuck to your goggles. So not a lot of people got out andjust like methose that did came home early to dry out.

The northwest flow will cool and destabilize throughout the day, so we expect heavy snow especially mid day through afternoon, which could pile up as much as a foot of snow by this evening and perhaps 6 more inches overnight. Ridge top temperatures will cool to the mid teens by afternoon with ridge top winds 20 with gusts to 30 mph from the northwest. Down at 8,000 temperatures will be in the mid 20s.

We should have lingering clouds on Friday but not much snow. By Saturday, ridge top temperatures will rise dramatically to near freezing and we will have to watch for wet avalanche activity within the new snow. Then, we have another quick-hitting cold front for Saturday night, which should give us another 8 inches of snow.

Click here for the National Weather Service graphic Forecast. Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.You can find our mountain weather forecast here by about noon each day.

Check out our new graphical advisory format. You can update your bookmarks to this link:http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/newadvisory/advisory.php

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE.

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides didnt get out yesterday and they will not get out again today.   For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Brett Kobernik will update this advisory by 7:30 Friday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

Utah Avalanche Center · Feb 3, 2006

February 3, 2006 - 7:09 am Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE on steep wind drifted slopes. There is also still a MODERATE chance of triggering a slide that breaks into deeper layers in non wind affected terrain. Remember that a moderate danger means human triggered avalanches are possible.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs The slides from yesterday perfectly demonstrate things we need to watch for again today. Wind drifts that formed yesterday and last night may still be sensitive today. Also, there is a chance you may find an area where you could trigger an avalanche into deeper layers. Each slope must be evaluated carefully and all backcountry protocols should be followed strictly. This means one person at a time on steep slopes and make sure to completely clear all runout zones.

24 Hrs With clearing skies we need to pay attention so southerly facing slopes as they may warm enough to produce some wet avalanche activity. Sensitive fresh wind drifts in the Cottonwoods were a common theme from Thursday with numerous intentional and unintentional human triggered avalanches. One person took a short ride on north facing Kessler after a slab broke out 8 to 10 inches deep and 50 feet wide. He stopped while the slide continued for about 1000 feet vertical distance. Another skier unintentionally popped out a slide 12 deep by about 50 wide that ran about 150 on a south aspect. One more slide worth mentioning was triggered after a skier kicked a cornice which then released a pocket that started to run down the slope then stepped down into faceted snow from last week. The initial slide was about a foot deep but broke 1 ½ to 2 ½ feet deep and 300 feet wide when it stepped down. It was on a southeast aspect in upper Bear Trap. There was not as much activity in the Ogden or Provo mountains.

Gusty winds continue along the ridgelines and temperatures are in the mid teens to mid 20s this morning. Snow showers continued overnight in the mountains with the Cottonwoods and Park City Ridgeline receiving 2 to 3 inches with less in the Ogden and Provo area mountains.

We should see partly cloudy skies with ridgetop winds in the 20 mph range from the northwest and ridgetop temperatures will be in the upper teens. Temperatures warm quite a bit on Saturday and will be near freezing at 10,000 feet. Ridgetop winds will stay in the 15 to 20 mph range but shift to the southwest. Another storm moves in late Saturday night and into Sunday bringing a dramatic cold front with a good shot of snow. 12 inches is possible. High pressure will dominate weather next week.

There will be a minor road closure in Big Cottonwood between about 7:50 and 8:30 this morning while they bomb Stairs Gulch if the weather allows.

There are still a few tickets left for the 3rd Annual Backcountry Awareness Fundraising Dinner tonight at 6pm with speakers Conrad Anker and Apa Sherpa. This usually sells out so call Snowbird at 933-2147 for tickets. Visit www.backcountryawareness.com for more details.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

You can find our mountain weather forecast here by about noon each day.

Check out our new graphical advisory format. You can update your bookmarks to this link:http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/newadvisory/advisory.php

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE.

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides didnt get out yesterday and they will fly in Mineral, Cardiff, Days, Silver, Grizzly, White Pine, and American Fork. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301. The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Evelyn Lees will update this advisory by 7:30 Saturday morning. Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.

The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.

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