avalanche advisory

March 9, 2007 - 7:01 am
SUMMARY >>> Danger by
  ASPECT & ELEVATION
BOTTOM LINE
on slopes over 35 degrees
  The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes of about 35 degrees and steeper on slopes that have either recent wind deposits or slopes that are getting wet from warm temperatures and sun.  Finally, there is still a MODERATE danger of lingering, large, hard-slab avalanches on slopes that face the north and east quadrants of the compass.  These will be in isolated areas and will be difficult to trigger but if you do, they will be very large and dangerous.

Forecaster: Bruce Tremper LINKS: -Danger scale- -Encyclopedia- -Text only-     CURRENT CONDITIONS >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO: NWS SNOW PAGESNOTEL MAP
We had a nice, little snow storm yesterday morning that laid down 4-7 inches of snow with about 0.4 to 0.7 inches of water weight.  The only exception was Brighton, who usually does well on these westerly flows.  They reported 11 inches of new snow with an inch of water weight.  The snow was mostly graupel and it seemed to bond fairly well to the old snow surface and was right-side-up unless it was wind drifted.Ridge top temperatures this morning have cooled to 25 degrees, 20 on the highest peaks and the winds have diminished to 10 mph from the west.  Skies were clear overnight, but we will have high clouds today.  The snow surface on sunny aspects got crusted yesterday.


RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
AVALANCHE LISTPHOTOSACCIDENTSSNOW PROFILES The new snow did not seem to weigh enough to reactivate the layers of depth hoar buried 2-4 feet deep, which produced no lack of huge, scary avalanches these past 3 weeks.  All the avalanche activity we heard about yesterday was within the new snow and it’s a relief to be dealing with just shallow, new-snow avalanches after three weeks of monster, deep slabs jumping out of the closet several days after they were loaded.  One, natural avalanche was noticed in Wolverine Cirque 2’ x 100’.  One skier intentionally triggered slides on the steep, north-facing slopes in Silver Fork, 200’ wide and 6 inches deep.  Two other skiers in the backcountry intentionally triggered soft slabs with ski cuts, one in Grizzly Gulch (just east of Alta) and another in Scottie’s Bowl (just west of Snowbird).  Both were about 6 inches deep and 30-60 feet wide. (There are PHOTOS on our photo list.)  Yesterday, the ski areas were able to easily trigger shallow, soft slabs with both ski cuts and explosives.  AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>> WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 24 hrs This morning I would guess that most of new snow will be much better-behaved but there will still be some pockets you can trigger on steep slopes with recent wind drifts.  The take-home point here is that you will have three different avalanche problems today.  First, you may be able to trigger relatively shallow, soft slabs within the new snow especially on steep slopes with recent wind drifts.

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 8 hrs Second, as the sun-exposed aspects heat up, there may be some shallow, wet, point-release sluffs and occasional slabs on the steep slopes.  Third, there is still a lingering potential to trigger a monster, deep, hard-slab avalanche 2-5 feet deep if you thump it in just the right spot or overload it with a shallower, surface avalanche, especially in the thinner snowpack areas. 

MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
UAC COMPILATION
NWS ZONAL FORECAST
uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org). (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 on Saturday morning, and thanks for calling.

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.
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


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
March 10, 2007 - 7:16 am
SUMMARY >>> Danger by
  ASPECT & ELEVATION
BOTTOM LINE
on slopes over 35 degrees
  The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes of about 35 degrees and steeper, especially with recent drifts of wind blown snow or where the snow is heating up from the warm temperatures and sun.  There is also a MODERATE danger of triggering a large, hard-slab avalanche on slopes that face the north and east quadrants of the compass, especially in thinner snowpack areas. 

Forecaster: Evelyn Lees LINKS: -Danger scale- -Encyclopedia- -Text only-     CURRENT CONDITIONS >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO: NWS SNOW PAGESNOTEL MAP
A weak storm system moving through northern Utah this morning has produced an additional 1 to 3” of dense snow, with the rain/snow line around 7,000’.  This is on top of the 4 to 7” of dense snow from Thursday.  After a warm night, cooler air is moving in with the front, and temperatures at all but the lowest elevations have dropped below freezing, with 10,000’ temperatures down into the mid 20’s.  Winds are in the process of shifting from southwest to northwest, and are generally in the 5 to 15 mph range, with gusts to 30.  The best place to look for cold dry powder is on northerly facing slopes, above about 9,000’.


RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
AVALANCHE LISTPHOTOSACCIDENTSSNOW PROFILES The new snow continued to be sensitive yesterday, especially on north and east facing slopes and in wind drifted areas. Dry soft slabs, wet slabs, and wet sluffs were easily triggered.  All of these were small, up to 6" deep x 50' wide, involved only new snow, but were moderately long running.

AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>> WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 24 hrs Today, there will be the same three avalanche problems Bruce listed yesterday.  First, you may be able to trigger relatively shallow, soft slabs within the new snow from the past two storms, especially on steep slopes with recent wind drifts.

Second, are still isolated places on northerly and easterly facing slopes where you could trigger a hard-slab avalanche 2-5 feet deep.  This would be most likely in a thinner snowpack area or in a shallow rocky place, and with a large trigger such as two or more people or snowmobiles on the slope at the same time. 

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 24 hrs Third, you’ll be able to trigger wet loose sluffs and a few wet slabs on steep slopes of almost all aspects and elevations as the snow heats up with sun and daytime heating, and at the lower elevations where it rained last night.  Old bed surfaces with new snow will also be sensitive.  All these new snow slides pack just enough punch to knock you off your feet and carry you, so don’t get surprised and shoved off a cliff or into a terrain trap such as a gully.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
UAC COMPILATION
NWS ZONAL FORECAST
SEASONAL Wx CHARTS A weak storm system is moving south through the area, with high pressure rapidly building in this afternoon.  Expect a few more snow showers through mid morning, with skies becoming partly sunny by afternoon.  Temperatures will warm to near 40 at 8,000’ and be in the low 20’s at 10,000’.  The winds are in the process of shifting to the northwest, and will average 5 to 15 mph at most locations, with the highest peaks having gusts in the 40’s and 50’s this morning.  High pressure will dominate through mid week, with temperatures rapidly warming into the mid to upper 30’s at 10,000’ on Sunday.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>> Yesterday, the Wasatch Powderbird Guides was in Cardiff, Days, Silver, Grizzly, American Fork and Snake Creek.  If the weather permits, they will operate two ships in the Tri-Canyons today, in Mineral, Cardiff, Days, Silver, Grizzly, White Pine, Millcreek, And American Fork.  With questions regarding their areas of operation call 742-2800.

Listen to the advisory.  Try our new streaming audio or podcastsUDOT highway avalanche control work info can be found HERE or by calling (801) 975-4838. Our statewide tollfree line is 1-888-999-4019 (early morning, option 8).For a list of avalanche classes, click HEREFor our classic text advisory click HERE.To sign up for automated e-mails of our graphical advisory click HEREWe appreciate all the great snowpack and avalanche observations we’ve been getting, so keep leaving us messages at (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, or email us at uac@avalanche.org. (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 on Sunday morning, and thanks for calling

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.
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


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
March 13, 2007 - 7:13 am
SUMMARY >>> Danger by
  ASPECT & ELEVATION
BOTTOM LINE
on slopes over 35 degrees
  The danger of wet sluff and slab avalanches will rise to CONSIDERABLE again today with daytime heating.  All aspects are suspect at lower elevations and steep southerly slopes should be avoided at all elevations especially as the day progresses.  When the snow gets damp and mushy it’s time to get off of it.  Keep in mind that the warmer temperatures may weaken dry, colder snow slabs enough for them to release as well on northerly aspects. Forecaster: Brett Kobernik LINKS: -Danger scale- -Encyclopedia- -Text only-     CURRENT CONDITIONS >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO: NWS SNOW PAGESNOTEL MAP
Temperatures were balmy overnight in the mid 30s to low 40s at many mountain locations.  Winds are generally less then 10 mph from the west.
RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
AVALANCHE LISTPHOTOSACCIDENTSSNOW PROFILES While I didn’t see much activity yesterday I wasn’t too surprised to hear about lots of natural avalanche activity on Monday.  These slides consisted of mainly small to medium wet loose snow avalanches however there were a few larger slides as well.  One happened at around 6 pm off of Mt Superior and stopped just short of the road below the town of Alta.  This was a slab avalanche that released due to warmer temperatures penetrating the snowpack.  Also, there was another slab that broke into older weak snow and snapped off some trees on the Park City side of the range.  This was triggered from a loose snow avalanche that released with explosives in uncompacted snow.  Observations from the Ogden area mountains showed that the snowpack is still prone to collapsing and producing shooting cracks.  Cornices are starting to peel away from ridgelines.  (See the photos link on the left) AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>> WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 8 hrs The same avalanche concerns from yesterday will be present today.  All of the activity is heat related whether it be wet loose snow or just warmer temperatures weakening a slab over faceted snow.  Both loose snow and slab avalanches could produce sizeable piles of debris that can snap trees.  These are tricky conditions in that many off these slides will come down only when they’re good and ready.  Many are not responsive to ski cuts or even explosives.  The mountain range will hold its cards tight only letting you see scattered avalanching so don’t let it make you think its bluffing.  I’d call it a loaded deck with a weakening slab over facets and continued heating to loosen the snowpack even more.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
UAC COMPILATION
NWS ZONAL FORECAST
SEASONAL Wx CHARTS It’ll be another scorcher today with temperatures into the 50s at the 8000 foot levels.  Westerly winds will increase this afternoon into the 10 to 20 mph range gusting to around 40 at the most exposed locations.  A storm will brush northern Utah on Wednesday bringing through some moisture that may produce a snow flurry or two.  A ridge then builds in starting Friday through the weekend with warmer temperatures. GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>> Yesterday, the Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in American Fork.  Today, they’ll go for American Fork, Cardiff, Days, Mineral, Silver, the Sessions and Cascade.  For more info, call 742-2800.

  

The UAC and ACE are offering a day long Women’s Avalanche Awareness class at Alta on March 22nd covering beacon use and basic safe travel, terrain and snowpack information, for a nominal fee.  For more details go to: www.altaarts.org.

uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org). (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 on Wednesday morning, and thanks for calling.

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.
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


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
March 14, 2007 - 7:07 am
SUMMARY >>> Danger by
  ASPECT & ELEVATION
BOTTOM LINE
on slopes over 35 degrees
  The danger of wet sluff and slab avalanches will rapidly rise to CONSIDERABLE again today on and below slopes of about 35 degrees and steeper, especially with daytime heating and sun.  Slides can be triggered on slopes of all aspects and elevations.  CONSIDERABLE means human triggered avalanches are likely and natural avalanches are possible, so stay off of and out from under steep slopes.  If you get buried in the cement like debris of one of these wet slides, even a track-hoe can’t dig you out fast enough to save your life.

Forecaster: Evelyn Lees LINKS: -Danger scale- -Encyclopedia- -Text only-     CURRENT CONDITIONS >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO: NWS SNOW PAGESNOTEL MAP
It’s the third morning in a row of non-freezing temperatures at many locations.  While temperatures are slightly cooler, many stations are still in the mid 30’s to low 40’s, with only a few 10,000 and 11,000’ stations managing to dip below freezing.  Overnight, intermittent bands of clouds passed over, acting like a blanket, keeping the snow surface warm.  The westerly winds are in the 10 to 15 mph range, with the highest peaks having speeds 20 to 30 mph, with gusts into the 40’s.  Any shallow surface refreeze will be very short lived.


RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
AVALANCHE LISTPHOTOSACCIDENTSSNOW PROFILES Things are definitely coming unglued with the outrageously hot temperatures, with two dangerous human triggered slides yesterday afternoon.  On south facing Flagstaff in Little Cottonwood, a skier remotely triggered two wet slab avalanches, which barely missed two people below. Check out the photos.    On a northerly facing slope off Pioneer Ridge, a party of four had a slab luckily release below them, about 4’ deep and 150’ wide.  Explosives released two slides 3 to 4’ deep on a southeasterly facing slope at 11,000’.  Reports came in of several more monster slides that probably released Monday evening including Holy Toledo, NW facing, 10,200', 3-6' deep x 600' wide; Gobblers NW face, all of skiers left of the gully, 2-3' deep, with much of crown well off ridgeline, similar to the Cabin Run avalanche from Saturday; and a slide in Bells Canyon, SW and WNW, over 6' deep and several hundred feet wide (photos on photo page); and a large tree breaking slide in Farmington Canyon. 

AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>> WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 10 hrs With another hot day in the forecast, a third morning of non freezing temperatures, and periods of high, thin clouds, expect more easily triggered wet sluffs and slabs in the backcountry.  The steep sunny slopes will be most active as the sun hits them, but all bets on timing are off.  Any shallow surface freeze this morning will be very short lived, and “corn slabs” are possible – the frozen surface snow or “crust” is sitting on wet snow, and a slab avalanche could be triggered by a person even with the surface still frozen.  Any loose sluff triggered could release a deeper, wider slab avalanche, or gouge and entrain snow as it moves down slope.  The snow on the shady, northerly facing slopes may heat today with the forecast of high, thin clouds, with sluffs and slabs possible.  If you get buried in the cement like debris of one of these wet slides, even a track-hoe can’t dig you out fast enough to save your life.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
UAC COMPILATION
NWS ZONAL FORECAST
SEASONAL Wx CHARTS It will be another uncomfortably warm day, with 8000’ temperatures near 50 and 10,000’ temperatures in the mid 30’s.  Periods of clouds and sun will alternate, before the clouds finally thicken this afternoon.  The westerly winds will generally be in the 10 to 20 mph range, with the highest peaks seeing speeds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts to 50.  Cooler air will finally arrive this evening, with 10,000’ temperatures dropping into the mid 20’s.  Rain and/or a trace of snow is possible this evening.  High pressure will rebound Friday, with temperatures jumping back up into the 30’s to 50’s through the weekend.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>> Yesterday, Wasatch Powderbird Guides did not fly, and if they do fly today, they will be in American Fork, and possibly Cardiff, Days and Silver.  For more info, call 742-2800.

The UAC and ACE are offering a day long Women’s Avalanche Awareness class at Alta on March 22nd covering beacon use and basic safe travel, terrain and snowpack information, for a nominal fee.  For more details go to: www.altaarts.org.

Listen to the advisory.  Try our new streaming audio or podcastsUDOT highway avalanche control work info can be found HERE or by calling (801) 975-4838. Our statewide tollfree line is 1-888-999-4019 (early morning, option 8).For a list of avalanche classes, click HEREFor our classic text advisory click HERE.To sign up for automated e-mails of our graphical advisory click HEREWe appreciate all the great snowpack and avalanche observations we’ve been getting, so keep leaving us messages at (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, or email us at uac@avalanche.org. (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 on Thursday morning, and thanks for calling.

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.
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


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
March 15, 2007 - 6:57 am
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT >>> UDOT will close the Little Cottonwood Canyon road between Alta and Snowbird for a short while on Friday afternoon for avalanche control.

SUMMARY >>> Danger by
  ASPECT & ELEVATION
BOTTOM LINE
on slopes over 35 degrees
  The danger of wet sluff and slab avalanches is MODERATE this morning and will rise to CONSIDERABLE again today on and below slopes of about 35 degrees and steeper, with daytime heating and sun.  Slides can be triggered on slopes of all aspects and elevations.  CONSIDERABLE means human triggered avalanches are likely and natural avalanches are possible, so stay off of and out from under steep slopes this afternoon and through the weekend. 

Forecaster: Bruce Tremper LINKS: -Danger scale- -Encyclopedia- -Text only-     CURRENT CONDITIONS >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO: NWS SNOW PAGESNOTEL MAP
Thankfully, cooler air pushed in overnight dropping the ridgetop temperatures down to just below freezing and about 25 degrees on the highest peaks.  With high and mid level clouds overnight to help hold the heat in, the snow surface probably did not refreeze as much as you would expect with the cooler air temperatures, but I’m guessing you will find supportable snow until about noon today.  Almost all slopes are heavily sun crusted with the exception of a few scraps of powder on upper elevation north facing slopes.


RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
AVALANCHE LISTPHOTOSACCIDENTSSNOW PROFILES Yesterday, the wet slab activity behaved itself much better than the sweltering days of Monday and Tuesday because temperatures were 5 degrees cooler and a moderate wind helped cool the snow surface.  As a result there was only two, large, wet slab reported.  The first was yet another wet slab in the backcountry of Alta on Emma Ridge, a steep, south-facing slope near Grizzly Gulch.  It released naturally in the heat of the afternoon and the debris ran to within 200’ of the road. Second, yesterday at mid day, someone kicked a cornice near Farmington Peak and broke out a deep, wide, wet slab below. Also of interest, yesterday I investigated the huge, natural, wet slab from late Tuesday afternoon on the northwest face of Gobbler’s Knob and I have PHOTOS posted, which are definitely worth a look.  If you are an avalanche geek, you definitely need to make time today to go up and admire the spectacle.  The debris is at least 30’ deep in the aspen-flats at the bottom and you should update your photo collection with textbook-characteristic, wet avalanche behavior as is forms its own 30’ deep bobsled run as it descends, wiping out all the vegetation in its path.  For an old avalanche geek like me, yesterday made my year. AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>> WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 24 hrs Today, the cooler temperatures will keep most of the deep, wet slab activity to a minimum in the morning, but by afternoon, it will heat right back up to above freezing conditions and we could see more wet slabs.  Also, remember that the refreeze is quite shallow and superficial and many places have noting but wet mush underneath, so we may see some “corn slabs” today as a seemingly frozen and solid surface releases as a wet slab avalanche.  More importantly, temperatures will rise rapidly to sweltering, bikini weather for the weekend.  Last night will be the last refreeze for the next few days and ridge top temperatures will rise to the mid 40’s by Saturday with 55 degrees at 8,000’.  In other words, we will have a scary weekend of huge, wet slab avalanches on all aspects.  MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
UAC COMPILATION
NWS ZONAL FORECAST
SEASONAL Wx CHARTS With mostly sunny skies, temperatures will rapidly rise today, especially in wind-sheltered areas.  Ridgetop temperatures will be around freezing with a 20 mph wind from the west.  Friday morning, ridge top temperatures will rise to 37 degrees and to the mid 40’s on Friday night and through the weekend.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>> Yesterday, Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew a few corn runs in American Fork, and today they will be looking for corn in American Fork, the Sessions, Cascade and White Pine.  For more info, call 742-2800.

  The UAC and ACE are offering a day long Women’s Avalanche Awareness class at Alta on March 22nd covering beacon use and basic safe travel, terrain and snowpack information, for a nominal fee.  For more details go to: www.altaarts.org.

Listen to the advisory.  Try our new streaming audio or podcastsUDOT highway avalanche control work info can be found HERE or by calling (801) 975-4838. Our statewide tollfree line is 1-888-999-4019 (early morning, option 8).For a list of avalanche classes, click HEREFor our classic text advisory click HERE.To sign up for automated e-mails of our graphical advisory click HEREWe appreciate all the great snowpack and avalanche observations we’ve been getting, so keep leaving us messages at (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, or email us at uac@avalanche.org. (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 on Friday morning, and thanks for calling.

 

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.
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


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
March 16, 2007 - 7:06 am
AVALANCHE WATCH >>>
An avalanche watch is in effect for all the mountains of northern Utah.  This means we are expecting avalanche conditions to become more dangerous today and through the weekend.  A weaker then average snowpack coupled with a dramatic warming trend has been producing large and dangerous avalanches over the last 5 days.  This trend is expected to continue with warm temperatures over the weekend.  Steep slopes and areas below any steep slopes should be avoided.  People without excellent backcountry avalanche and route finding skills should stay out of the backcountry today through this weekend. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT >>> UDOT is planning on closing the highway in Little Cottonwood Canyon from entry 4 at Snowbird through the town of Alta at around 4:45pm today to do avalanche control work with explosives.  This includes the main road as well as the bypass road.  Interlodge restrictions will be in place by around 5.  People should clear the south facing ridges and slopes from Mt Superior up to Grizzly Gulch by around noon in the event that control work needs to be implemented earlier.  This work will also be performed Saturday afternoon as well. SUMMARY >>> Danger by
  ASPECT & ELEVATION
BOTTOM LINE
on slopes over 35 degrees
  The danger of wet sluff and slab avalanches is MODERATE this morning and will rise to CONSIDERABLE again today on and below slopes of about 35 degrees and steeper, with daytime heating and sun.  Slides can be triggered on slopes of all aspects and elevations.  CONSIDERABLE means human triggered avalanches are likely and natural avalanches are possible, so stay off of and out from under steep slopes this afternoon and through the weekend.  Forecaster: Brett Kobernik LINKS: -Danger scale- -Encyclopedia- -Text only-     CURRENT CONDITIONS >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO: NWS SNOW PAGESNOTEL MAP
Temperatures dipped below freezing at many locations last night which should produce a fairly decent surface re-freeze of the snow.  Keep in mind that there are lots of stations that recorded temperatures above freezing as well.  Some are Snowbasin Wildcat at 7800’, low of 37;  Tom’s Hill in Big Cottonwood at 9000 feet, low of 32 currently 35;  Davis Peak south of Provo Canyon at 9700 feet, low of 32 currently 35.  Winds are generally less then 10 mph from the west gusting into the mid 20s at the more exposed locations.
RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
AVALANCHE LISTPHOTOSACCIDENTSSNOW PROFILES Avalanche activity reported from yesterday was, oddly enough, from within ski resort boundaries in open areas in two separate incidents.  One ski patroller in Big Cottonwood canyon was taken by surprise when a northeast facing slope at around 9800 feet released a slab that took him for a ride.  Luckily, he wasn’t buried and sustained minor injuries.  It’s important to note that the surface was still firm and hadn’t become damp or unsupportable at the time.  There were also un-confirmed reports of another slide at a ski area in Little Cottonwood where no one was caught.  The point here is that if professionals who deal with snow on a daily basis are getting caught off guard, backcountry recreational users have equal or lesser odds.  While I was digging around yesterday it was easy to punch through the superficial re-frozen surface and reach down into the damp faceted snow which is not re-freezing.  You’ll find similar situations today in many areas.  (I have more photos of recent avalanches which I’ll post by around 9:00 am) AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>> WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 24 hrs The main concern again is warming temperatures weakening the snow surface to the point where it fails or to the point where the faceted underlying snow fails as the slab above it becomes weak and can no longer resist gravity.  The key to backcountry travel is to get off of steep slopes before they become soft.  If you can stick your boot through the snow surface, you’re too late.  Also, keep in mind that even a supportable surface may not provide you with 100 percent protection as was the case with the patroller in Big Cottonwood.  Its best give slopes some extra lee way and get off them earlier then usual.  Southeast facing slopes are the first to soften therefore should be the first to move off of as the morning progresses.  South facing slopes are next then southwest and west as the sun swings around in the afternoon. MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
UAC COMPILATION
NWS ZONAL FORECAST
SEASONAL Wx CHARTS Today we’ll see mostly clear skies with ridgetop temperatures around 40 and in the low 50s at 8,000 feet.  Winds will be from the west in the 5 to 15 mph range.  Warm temperatures headline the weather news through the weekend with more of the same and little if any refreeze the next couple of nights.  The next system is expected sometime Tuesday when temperatures will cool off and bring the next chance for snow. GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>> Yesterday, Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in American Fork, and the Sessions. Today they’ll be in American Fork, White Pine, Snake Creek, the Sessions and Cascade.  For more info, call 742-2800.

The UAC and ACE are offering a day long Women’s Avalanche Awareness class at Alta on March 22nd covering beacon use and basic safe travel, terrain and snowpack information, for a nominal fee.  For more details go to: www.altaarts.org.

uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org). (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 on Saturday morning, and thanks for calling.

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.
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


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
March 17, 2007 - 7:13 am
AVALANCHE WARNING!!! >>>
A special avalanche advisory has been issued for the mountains of northern Utah for the weekend.  A weak snowpack and record breaking temperatures have created a CONSIDERABLE to HIGH avalanche danger, with both human triggered and natural avalanches probable.  These dangerous avalanches have the potential to be very large and long running.  Steep slopes and the areas below steep slopes should be avoided.  People without excellent avalanche and route finding skills should stay out of the backcountry this weekend.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT >>> UDOT is planning on closing the highway in Little Cottonwood Canyon from entry 4 at Snowbird through the town of Alta at around 4:45pm today to do avalanche control work with explosives.  This includes the main road as well as the bypass road.  Interlodge restrictions will be in place by around 5pm.  People should clear the south facing ridges and slopes from Mt Superior up to Grizzly Gulch by around noon in the event that control work needs to be implemented earlier.  This work may also be performed Sunday afternoon as well.

SUMMARY >>> Danger by
  ASPECT & ELEVATION
BOTTOM LINE
on slopes over 35 degrees
  The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today on and below slopes of about 35 degrees and steeper, and may rise to HIGH this afternoon as the day heats up.  Slides can be triggered on steep slopes of all aspects and elevations, and both human triggered and natural avalanches are possible.  A few of these slides have the potential to be very large, dangerous, and long running.

Forecaster: Evelyn Lees LINKS: -Danger scale- -Encyclopedia- -Text only-     CURRENT CONDITIONS >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO: NWS SNOW PAGESNOTEL MAP
It was down right tropical last night, and as of 6 am, temperatures are in the mid thirties to mid 40’s from the ridgetops down into the valleys.  The westerly winds are generally in the 5 to 10 mph range, gusting into the mid 20s at the more exposed locations.  Any surface refreeze is very localized and shallow, just a thin frozen crust over damp snow.


RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
AVALANCHE LISTPHOTOSACCIDENTSSNOW PROFILES No new avalanche activity was reported from the backcountry Friday.  With afternoon explosive control work, a Big Cottonwood resort released two wet slabs, 2 to 5’ deep, starting out 60’ wide, and getting wider as they ran and a small slide was released above the Little Cottonwood highway.

AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>> WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 24 hrs This weekend, we may just be able to write the book on wet avalanches.  There is the potential for just about every kind of wet snow slide - sluffs, wet slabs, glide crack releases, and even “corn slabs”, where the thin, frozen crust on the surface can be triggered.  Any slide triggered will most likely step down, widen, or entrain more snow, resulting in a much larger and more dangerous slide.   If you do get caught and buried, the dense debris of the wet slide will squash the air out of you and you may never take another breath.  Wet snow slides are about as unpredictable and uncooperative as it gets, and avalanches are possible this weekend around the clock, 24 hours per day.

There is the potential for a few more very large and long running spontaneous slides to occur, similar to the Gobblers, Mineral, Bells Canyon and Thurston Peak slides from this past week.  These isolated, long running slides could travel all the way down gullies to dry ground, such as in the Lisa Falls area and other drainage bottoms.  If you head into the hills or mountains today, look above you or check out a map, avoid drainages and gullies below large, snow covered slopes.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
UAC COMPILATION
NWS ZONAL FORECAST
SEASONAL Wx CHARTS It’s out of the frying pan and into the fire today, with clear sunny skies and record breaking temperatures rising to near 60 at 8,000’ and into the mid 40’s at 10,000’.  The westerly winds will be light, generally in the 5 to 15 mph range, with gusts in the 20’s across the highest peaks.  Tonight, there will be a few high thin clouds, with temperatures remaining in the mid 30’s to low 40’s at all elevations.  Temperatures will remain warm until Tuesday afternoon, when a Pacific cold front reaches northern Utah, bringing snow to the mountains and finally dropping temperatures below freezing for a few days. 

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>> Yesterday, Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in American Fork, Snake Creek and the Sessions. Today if they fly, they’ll be in American Fork, White Pine, Snake Creek, the Sessions and Cascade.  For more info, call 742-2800.

The UAC and ACE are offering a day long Women’s Avalanche Awareness class at Alta on March 22nd covering beacon use and basic safe travel, terrain and snowpack information, for $30.  For more details go to: www.altaarts.org.

Listen to the advisory.  Try our new streaming audio or podcastsUDOT highway avalanche control work info can be found HERE or by calling (801) 975-4838. Our statewide tollfree line is 1-888-999-4019 (early morning, option 8).For a list of avalanche classes, click HEREFor our classic text advisory click HERE.To sign up for automated e-mails of our graphical advisory click HEREWe appreciate all the great snowpack and avalanche observations we’ve been getting, so keep leaving us messages at (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, or email us at uac@avalanche.org. (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 on Sunday morning, and thanks for calling.

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.
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


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
March 20, 2007 - 7:01 am
AVALANCHE WARNING!!! >>>
RECORD BREAKING WARM TEMPERATURES CONTINUES TO WARRANT A SPECIAL AVALANCHE STATEMENT FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN UTAH. BOTH LARGE NATURAL AND HUMAN TRIGGERED AVALANCHES ARE POSSIBLE.  THOSE WITHOUT EXCELLENT AVALANCHE AND ROUTE FINDING SKILLS SHOULD AVOID BEING ON OR BENEATH STEEP MOUNTAIN SLOPES. SUMMARY >>> Danger by
  ASPECT & ELEVATION
BOTTOM LINE
on slopes over 35 degrees
  The avalanche danger will again rise to CONSIDERABLE today on all steep slopes.  All aspects are capable of producing large, longer running avalanches.  Getting out of the mountains early is the easiest way to avoid dangerous avalanches. Forecaster: Brett Kobernik LINKS: -Danger scale- -Encyclopedia- -Text only-     CURRENT CONDITIONS >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO: NWS SNOW PAGESNOTEL MAP
Skies are partly cloudy and temperatures are once again above freezing at most mountain locations up to 11,000 feet.  Winds have been slightly increasing over the last 12 hours and are in the 10 to 15 mph range from the southwest gusting into the 40s at the most exposed locations.
RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
AVALANCHE LISTPHOTOSACCIDENTSSNOW PROFILES Control work again pulled out some large slab avalanches on the Park City side of the range on Monday.  Water percolating through the pack was noted while snow safety workers took a look at a crown where the water was coming out of the crown. AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>> WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 12 hrs Heat related avalanche activity will be the concern for one more day today.  Drew put it really well yesterday; warm temperatures weakens the snowpack rather then our more typical danger of stressing the snowpack by adding a bunch of weight in the form of new snow.  The slab becomes weak and the water percolating through the snow loosens the already weak faceted snow near the ground.  MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
UAC COMPILATION
NWS ZONAL FORECAST
SEASONAL Wx CHARTS We’ll see partly cloudy skies with warm temperatures and moderate southwest winds today.  Scattered light rain is possible.  Temperatures won’t get quite as warm as the last few days but will get to around 50 at 8000 feet.  Southwest winds increase this afternoon.  Tonight we’ll have a change with a storm that will bring cooler temperatures and a shot of snow.  3 to 6 inches of snow is expected with a bit more possible in the upper Cottonwoods by mid day Wednesday. GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>> The Wasatch Powderbird Guides didn’t get out yesterday and won’t get out today.  For more info, call 742-2800.

The UAC and ACE are offering a day long Women’s Avalanche Awareness class at Alta on March 22nd covering beacon use and basic safe travel, terrain and snowpack information, for $30.  For more details go to: www.altaarts.org.

uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org). (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 on Wednesday morning, and thanks for calling.

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.
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


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
March 21, 2007 - 7:28 am
SUMMARY >>> Danger by
  ASPECT & ELEVATION
BOTTOM LINE
on slopes over 35 degrees
  The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees, where there is an isolated chance of triggering a deep slide on the weak facets that exist on almost all aspects.   Also, avoid the new drifts of wind blown snow on steep slopes, which will be most common along the ridgelines. Forecaster: Evelyn Lees LINKS: -Danger scale- -Encyclopedia- -Text only-     CURRENT CONDITIONS >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO: NWS SNOW PAGESNOTEL MAP
A cold front slowly pushing through the area from the south has brought varying amounts of snow to the mountains. The Salt Lake, Park City and Provo area mountains have received 2 to 5” of 8 to 10% density snow, while snow is just starting to fall further to the north. Temperatures have steadily cooled overnight, and are in the upper twenties above about 9,000’. The southerly winds are gusting into the 40’s across the highest peaks, while elsewhere averages are generally in the 5 to 15 mph range. The new snow is falling on frozen, mostly supportable crusts, and will freshen up the turning, riding and snowshoeing conditions nicely.
RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
AVALANCHE LISTPHOTOSACCIDENTSSNOW PROFILES The only avalanche activity reported yesterday was a wet slab released with explosive control work in the afternoon in mid Big Cottonwood.  It was on a southwest facing slope and broke to the ground. AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>> WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 24 hrs The cooling temperatures should just about end the recent wet avalanche activity as the liquid water in the snowpack gradually freezes.  However, there are still a few isolated places where a person or a group of people could trigger a slide on the layer of facets, especially where they are still wet.  Facets exist in the snowpack on almost all aspects, and a slide would most likely be triggered in a steep, rocky or shallow snowpack area.  The new snow should bond well to the rough, old snow surface, but be alert for a few shallow, new drifts along the windier ridgelines that might be sensitive to the weight of a person. MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
UAC COMPILATION
NWS ZONAL FORECAST
SEASONAL Wx CHARTS A slow moving cold front will bring periods of snow this morning, before tapering off this afternoon. South of I-80, the heaviest snowfall should be over, with scattered showers expected to add a final inch or two of snow today. The mountains north of I-80 should have heavier snowfall this morning, with accumulations reaching 3 to 5” by afternoon. The brisk, southerly ridgeline winds will taper off later today, decreasing into the 5 to 15 mph range and shifting to the northwest. 10,000’ temperatures will drop into the low 20’s, and 8,000’ temperatures will be in the low 30’s. High pressure will build in across the region tonight, with clearing skies and lows in the 20’s. A weak storm is possible Friday, bringing a small chance for snow. GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>> The Wasatch Powderbird Guides didn’t get out yesterday and won’t get out today. For more info, call 742-2800.

The UAC and ACE are offering a day long Women’s Avalanche Awareness class at Alta on March 22nd covering beacon use and basic safe travel, terrain and snowpack information, for $30.  For more details go to: www.altaarts.org.

uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org). (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 on Thursday morning, and thanks for calling.

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.
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


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
March 22, 2007 - 7:03 am
SUMMARY >>> Danger by
  ASPECT & ELEVATION
BOTTOM LINE
on slopes over 35 degrees
  The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees, when slopes get wet and soggy, especially in the heat of the afternoon on sun exposed slopes.

Forecaster: Bruce Tremper LINKS: -Danger scale- -Encyclopedia- -Text only-     CURRENT CONDITIONS >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO: NWS SNOW PAGESNOTEL MAP
Yesterday’s 4-6 inches of new snow seemed like quite a treat after hot, sweltering weather since nearly the first of the month.  But it is spring, after all, and it all turned to mank in a hurry except for the straight, north-facing slopes above about 9,500’.  The new snow is heavily sun crusted this morning except for upper elevation north facing slopes.   Yesterday, at elevations below about 8,500’, the old snow was not very supportable and people reported punching through into wet snow.  This morning, the ridge top temperatures remain the same as yesterday—20 to 25 degrees—but in the mountain basin bottoms, the temperatures are 5 degrees colder than yesterday and are also 20-25 degrees.  Skies were clear overnight so combined with the colder temperatures and clear skies, there should be a good refreeze overnight in most areas and it will be more solid than yesterday morning.


RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
AVALANCHE LISTPHOTOSACCIDENTSSNOW PROFILES A strong wind came up yesterday morning, which drifted snow in above-treeline slopes and created widespread areas of dense, shallow, soft, wind slabs, which would crack under you and slide on the steeper slopes.  But the spring heat settled them out by noon, so they should not be a problem again today.Today the biggest problem will once again be the lingering potential of wet slabs, some of which could break deep into old, wet, faceted snow several feet deep.  Yesterday we had a report of wet slabs breaking out in the backcountry near Brighton but in reading the report it’s unclear whether these occurred yesterday or before that.  But in general, most slopes seemed to stay in place despite people getting aggressive on most of the popular, steep, backcountry terrain.    See photos and field reports from yesterday at our PHOTOS page.

AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>> WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 8 hrs The take-home point here is that you should practice the usual springtime ritual of getting out early and get home early.  Stay off of steep, sun-exposed slopes when they get wet and mushy especially in the heat of the afternoon. MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
UAC COMPILATION
NWS ZONAL FORECAST
SEASONAL Wx CHARTS Today should be a bluebird, sunny day with light ridgetop winds and ridge top temperatures near freezing.  8,000’ temperatures will probably get up into the 40’s in the warm sun.   We may get a few high and mid level clouds on Friday and a brush-by system on Sunday may give us a few snowflakes, but otherwise, nothing until next Tuesday and Wednesday when a strong cold font is forecast.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>> The Wasatch Powderbird Guides didn’t get out yesterday and today they will fly in Cardiff, Days, Silver, Mineral, Mill Creek, American Fork, Cascades and the Sessions.  For more info, call 742-2800.

  Today, Evelyn Lees will teach a day long Women’s Avalanche Awareness class at Alta covering beacon use and basic safe travel, terrain and snowpack information, for $30.  For more details go to: www.altaarts.org.

uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org). (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 on Friday morning, and thanks for calling.

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.
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


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
March 23, 2007 - 7:09 am
SUMMARY >>> Danger by
  ASPECT & ELEVATION
BOTTOM LINE
on slopes over 35 degrees
  The avalanche danger will go from LOW to MODERATE on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees as daytime heating occurs.  Clouds this afternoon may keep temperatures in check and not allow slopes to become total mush which will help keep the avalanche danger at bay. Forecaster: Brett Kobernik LINKS: -Danger scale- -Encyclopedia- -Text only-     CURRENT CONDITIONS >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO: NWS SNOW PAGESNOTEL MAP
Mountain temperatures were a few degrees warmer last night then the night before but still in the mid 20s and with clear skies overnight this should provide a decent refreeze of the upper snowpack.  Temperatures are slightly warmer in the Ogden and Provo area mountains with a number of stations above freezing.  Winds are from a westerly direction and fairly light.  Riding conditions remained pretty good yesterday with people still enjoying soft dry snow on the more northerly aspects.  The new snow has kind of loused up the corn but if you go to areas that didn’t receive much snow out of the last system chances are better for a supportable surface.  Otherwise you’ll find breakable crusts this morning on aspects that were sun affected over the last few days.
RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
AVALANCHE LISTPHOTOSACCIDENTSSNOW PROFILES Things were fairly quiet in the backcountry on Thursday as far as avalanches were concerned.  There were a couple of glide avalanches in Broads Fork which is not surprising for this time of the season.  Also, you could initiate small push-a-lanches with slope cuts on sun exposed aspects that would entrain the new snow.  (see Photos link on the left)  These could get big enough to knock a person over causing injury if they run on a sustained enough slope. AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>> WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 12 hrs The main concern for today will be heat related activity mostly within the new snow as the day progresses.  East facing slopes warm first, then south, then west.  Avalanches releasing deeper into the snowpack will be fairly unlikely but you will still want to watch sunny aspects to become punchy.  If this happens, it’s time to move off of them as this is a sign that the snow is becoming weak. MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
UAC COMPILATION
NWS ZONAL FORECAST
SEASONAL Wx CHARTS Skies will start out mostly clear this morning with increasing clouds through the day.  8000 to 10,000 foot ridgeline temperatures will be a few degrees warmer then yesterday and reach into the mid 40s.  Ridgetop winds will pick up slightly for a while but only into the 10mph range gusting to around 30 at the more exposed locations from a northerly direction.  For the weekend we’ll see partly cloudy skies with gradually increasing daytime temperatures and southwest winds picking up on Sunday.  There will be a disturbance that will bring the chance for rain or snow showers late Sunday then the next good chance for a colder snow storm will be Tuesday into Wednesday which looks fairly decent still at this time. GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>> The Wasatch Powderbird Guides were in Cardiff, American Fork and White Pine yesterday and today they will fly in Cardiff, Days, Silver, Mineral, White Pine, Grizzly, Mill Creek, American Fork, Cascade and the Sessions.  For more info, call 742-2800.

uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org). (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 on Saturday morning, and thanks for calling.

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.
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


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
March 24, 2007 - 6:56 am
SUMMARY >>> Danger by
  ASPECT & ELEVATION
BOTTOM LINE
on slopes over 35 degrees
  The avalanche danger is generally LOW this morning, and will rise to MODERATE on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees with daytime heating.  The rising danger will follow the sun – first on easterly facing slopes, then south and then west.  Carefully monitor snow conditions, and get off of and out from under steep sunny slopes as they heat up.

Forecaster: Evelyn Lees LINKS: -Danger scale- -Encyclopedia- -Text only-     CURRENT CONDITIONS >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO: NWS SNOW PAGESNOTEL MAP
Under clear skies, temperatures at most elevations are well below freezing for the third morning in a row – in the mid to upper 20’s.  The northeasterly winds are in the 5 to 15 mph range, with a few of the most exposed stations having gusts to near 30 mph.  The typical spring turning, riding and snowshoeing conditions are very good, with isolated powder on steep, northerly facing slopes above about 9,000’ and supportable crusts on the other aspects.  As the crusts soften, it may just be some of the best corn of the year, and with precise, Swiss-like timing, it’s possible to make a full day of it in the backcountry by working aspect and slope angle. 


RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
AVALANCHE LISTPHOTOSACCIDENTSSNOW PROFILES No new slab avalanches were reported from the backcountry yesterday, though a few crusted slopes did soften enough to get a collapse on the damp snow below.  Push-a-lanches were possible on steep, sunny slopes as the surface snow heated up and shallow, loose sluffs were easy to trigger on the steep, shady slopes.

AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>> WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 10 hrs As you head into the backcountry today, you’ll have to deal with the typical heat related wet snow problems, just a bit trickier due to the some faceted layers.  As usual, you want to be off the sunny slopes before the snow heats up.  If the snow is becoming punchy, sloppy or the crusts “bendy”, it’s definitely too warm and you need to immediately switch to a cooler aspect.  Corn slabs are possible today, when what appears to be a solid, frozen crust fails on a wet layer beneath.  So as you travel, monitor the depth of the refreeze often by digging down or jabbing your pole handle into the snow.

On the steep, northerly facing slopes there remains an isolated chance that a person could trigger a slab avalanche, in thinner snowpack area or shallow rocky area.  So no matter where you travel today, continue to use good, safe travel techniques of one at a time on any steep slope and observe your partner from a safe place.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
UAC COMPILATION
NWS ZONAL FORECAST
SEASONAL Wx CHARTS A warm and mild weekend is in store for northern Utah.  Skies will be mostly clear today, with a few mid level clouds moving through this morning and a bit of afternoon cumulus build up, though less than yesterday.  The winds will gradually shift to the north today and decrease into the 5 to 10 mph range.  Temperatures will warm to the low 50’s at 8,000’ and to near freezing at 10,000’.   Skies will be mostly clear tonight and Sunday, and temperatures slightly warmer.  It looks like there could be a decent shot of cold snow late Tuesday.   

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>> The Wasatch Powderbird Guides were in Mineral, Cardiff, and Days yesterday, and today they will fly in American Fork, Cascade and the Sessions.  For more info, call 742-2800.

Listen to the advisory.  Try our new streaming audio or podcastsUDOT highway avalanche control work info can be found HERE or by calling (801) 975-4838. Our statewide tollfree line is 1-888-999-4019 (early morning, option 8).For a list of avalanche classes, click HEREFor our classic text advisory click HERE.To sign up for automated e-mails of our graphical advisory click HEREWe appreciate all the great snowpack and avalanche observations we’ve been getting, so keep leaving us messages at (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, or email us at uac@avalanche.org. (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 on Sunday morning, and thanks for calling.

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.
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


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
March 27, 2007 - 6:53 am
SUMMARY >>> Danger by
  ASPECT & ELEVATION
BOTTOM LINE
on slopes over 35 degrees
  The avalanche danger is generally LOW this morning, but will rise to MODERATE late this afternoon on any slope steeper than about 35 degrees with fresh drifts of wind blown snow. 

Forecaster: Evelyn Lees LINKS: -Danger scale- -Encyclopedia- -Text only-     CURRENT CONDITIONS >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO: NWS SNOW PAGESNOTEL MAP
A cold, powerful storm is tantalizingly close…but we’re still a day away from enjoying deep, fresh powder.  Ahead of the storm, it will be a warm, blustery morning, with heavy snowfall not expected to start until mid afternoon.  The strong southerly winds are in the 25 to 35 mph range, with gusts in the 50’s to 70’s across peaks favored by this flow.  10,000’ temperatures are in the low to mid 30’s this morning, with readings in the low 40’s at 8,000’.   The old snow surface is mostly frozen crusts, with a just a few remnants of soft snow on steep, upper elevation northerly facing slopes.


RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
AVALANCHE LISTPHOTOSACCIDENTSSNOW PROFILES No new avalanches were reported from the backcountry yesterday.  

AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>> WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 24 hrs There is not much snow available for transport this morning, but with gale force winds, don’t over look any shallow drifts that may form.  They could be well off the ridgelines, and should be avoided on steep slopes.  Once snow starts to fall this afternoon, the strong southerly winds will rapidly create fresh drifts of snow, especially on northerly facing slopes, which could get deep enough by dark to catch and carry a person.    

The new snow will be landing on stout, strong crusts on most aspects, but on northwest, north and northeasterly facing slopes there are a few weak layers in the upper foot of the old snow.  This weak snow, below thin surface crusts or a denser heat layer, may get overloaded with the new snow and is worth keeping track of.  These layers change rapidly with just a few degrees difference in slope angle and aspect, so check them out efficiently with quick hand and pole pits.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
UAC COMPILATION
NWS ZONAL FORECAST
SEASONAL Wx CHARTS A cold, vigorous storm moving across California will reach northern Utah this afternoon, producing snow through Thursday morning.  Skies will become mostly cloudy by noon, with a few rain showers possible this afternoon, before rapidly dropping temperatures turn the precipitation to snow.  2 to 5” of snow is possible by late afternoon.  Winds will remain from the south to southwest today, averaging 30 to 40 mph across the higher ridges, with gusts in the 60’s and 70’s.  Temperatures will be near 40 at 8,000’ and in the upper 20’s at 10,000’ this morning, before dropping into the low 20’s this afternoon.  Heavy snowfall tonight, with about a foot by morning.  Temperatures tonight will be in low teens, and the winds will shift to the northwest late this evening.  An additional 6 to 12 inches of snow is expected Wednesday through Thursday morning, with periods of strong northwesterly winds.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>> The Wasatch Powderbird Guides were in Cascade and American Fork yesterday, and will not be flying today. For more info, call 742-2800.

uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org). (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 on Wednesday morning, and thanks for calling.

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.
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


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
March 28, 2007 - 7:04 am
SUMMARY >>> Danger by
  ASPECT & ELEVATION
BOTTOM LINE
on slopes over 35 degrees
  The avalanche danger is generally LOW this morning on most slopes.  There is a pockety MODERATE danger for sluffing of the new snow and the occasional wind drift along exposed ridges. Forecaster: Brett Kobernik LINKS: -Danger scale- -Encyclopedia- -Text only-     CURRENT CONDITIONS >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO: NWS SNOW PAGESNOTEL MAP
The storm is officially a bust!  Don’t get me wrong, there’s still fresh powder to go out and enjoy but we won’t see the 20 to 30 inches which was originally possible.  Storm totals as of 6:30 this morning are 4 to 9 inches fairly evenly distributed from the Provo mountains through the Salt Lake mountains and into the Ogden area with a little less in the Park City areas.  Snow tapered off overnight but has started back up.  Mountain temperatures are in the upper teens to mid 20s and winds really dropped off overnight and are currently from a northerly direction at less then 10 mph at most stations.  If you haven’t been out in a while keep in mind that you may find dirt and rocks under the new snow in some locations due to our recent melt down.
RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
AVALANCHE LISTPHOTOSACCIDENTSSNOW PROFILES You had to stay out late to see any avalanche activity on Tuesday which consisted of minor sluffing within the new snow.  A period of convective weather produced thunder, lightning, some large graupel and heavier density snow to start the storm out.  This bonded to the old snow surface quite well.  Lighter density snow followed in a period of high snowfall rates where a person could initiate sluffing.  Snow tapered off mid evening which gave it some time to settle but has started again with a period of 2 inches an hour from 5 to 6 am.  (click the Photos link on the left for some observations) AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>> WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 24 hrs The main concern for today will be within the new snow.  People may be able to initiate sluffing and if it’s on a sustained enough slope could produce a small to medium sized pile of debris, maybe even enough to knock you over.  Also, you might find a small wind drift that may crack along the higher ridgelines but this will be spotty at best unless the winds pick up late today.  MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
UAC COMPILATION
NWS ZONAL FORECAST
SEASONAL Wx CHARTS We’ll see periods of snow during the day today with another 3 to 6 inches expected.  Not much more snow is expected tonight into Thursday.  Winds will be northerly in the 5 to 10 mph range picking up late in the day into the 10 to 15 mph range gusting into the 30s.  Ridgetop temperatures will be in the mid 20s.  Thursday will be partly cloudy with a small chance for snow in the morning along with slightly warmer temperatures and continued northerly winds in the 10 to 20 mph range.  GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>> The Wasatch Powderbird Guides didn’t fly yesterday and won’t today. For more info, call 742-2800.

The Canyons Professional Ski Partol Association is hosting a fundraiser for the Friends of the Utah Avalalanche Center April 1, at 7:30 at Side Car in Park City.

uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org). (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 on Thursday morning, and thanks for calling.

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.
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


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
March 29, 2007 - 6:51 am
SUMMARY >>> Danger by
  ASPECT & ELEVATION
BOTTOM LINE
on slopes over 35 degrees
  The avalanche danger is generally LOW on most slopes with a MODERATE danger of wet sluffs on slopes approaching 40 degrees or steeper on slopes that are getting wet from solar heading.   

Forecaster: Bruce Tremper LINKS: -Danger scale- -Encyclopedia- -Text only-     CURRENT CONDITIONS >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO: NWS SNOW PAGESNOTEL MAP
For a storm that was “officially a bust,” it sure felt nice to me yesterday and hundreds of other people with big smiles on their faces.  It almost felt like March, which I always like to remind people, is historically, the snowiest month of the winter.  Overnight, Alta reported 4 more inches of snow making their storm total of 18 inches, which is now settled down to about half that amount.  Most other areas got 2 inches overnight with storm totals a foot or less, which seems fairly evenly spread through northern Utah. The snow remains delightful on northerly facing slopes above about 9,000’ in elevation, but as is usual this time of year, it turned to various textures of mashed potatoes on the other aspects.  Ridge top temperatures remained in the teens yesterday with light winds.


RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
AVALANCHE LISTPHOTOSACCIDENTSSNOW PROFILES The only avalanche activity from yesterday was easy sluffing of the new snow on the old, frozen surface on slopes approaching 40 degrees and steeper.  Most of the sluffs were small and relatively harmless, but some on the larger, steep slopes were large enough to bury a person. 

AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>> WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 8 hrs Most of the sluffing will have settled out by today but if the sun comes out, you can expect widespread sluffing of damp new snow on the steep slopes that face the south half of the compass. MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
UAC COMPILATION
NWS ZONAL FORECAST
SEASONAL Wx CHARTS We’ll see continued clouds and fog at least this morning but you should get it quick today because the sun will likely come out by mid day, which will goober up the snow in a hurry.  Ridge top winds will remain light from the northeast and north with ridge top temperatures in the mid teens.  It should be mostly cloudy on Friday with a chance for light snow showers.The extended forecast calls for sunny on Saturday, some clouds for Sunday and slowly increasing temperatures.  So we will be back to freezing on the ridge tops by Saturday.  We don’t see any significant snow for the next 10 days.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>> The Wasatch Powderbird Guides didn’t fly yesterday and if they can fly today, they will be in Silver, Days, Cardiff, Mineral, American Fork and Mill Creek. For more info, call 742-2800.

The Canyons Professional Ski Partol Association is hosting a fundraiser for the Friends of the Utah Avalalanche Center April 1, at 7:30 at Side Car in Park City.

uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org). (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 on Friday morning, and thanks for calling.

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.
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


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
March 30, 2007 - 7:03 am
SUMMARY >>> Danger by
  ASPECT & ELEVATION
BOTTOM LINE
on slopes over 35 degrees
  The avalanche danger is generally LOW on most slopes with a pockety MODERATE danger of triggering a wind slab on many different aspects.  There is also a potential for the danger to rise to MODERATE during periods where the skies may clear as the day progresses mainly on slopes approaching 40 degrees with a sun exposed aspect. Forecaster: Brett Kobernik LINKS: -Danger scale- -Encyclopedia- -Text only-     CURRENT CONDITIONS >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO: NWS SNOW PAGESNOTEL MAP
The low pressure rotating off to our east kept temperatures cool and fed clouds in from the northeast which kept the snow cold for the most part.  Solar radiation did affect the snow surface somewhat during brief periods of clearing.  A northeast wind event yesterday morning did some damage to the snow surface as well as producing some drifting.  Winds slowed in the afternoon but another similar northeast wind event occurred last night with not quite the wind speeds we saw yesterday.  Snow flurries throughout the day produced a few more inches of snow.  Temperatures cooled into the teens overnight and even into the single digits at 11,000 feet.
RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
AVALANCHE LISTPHOTOSACCIDENTSSNOW PROFILES Many folks that were out enjoying the recent fresh snow experienced the affect of yesterday’s winds.  Widespread shallow but manageable wind slabs were triggered by people as well as a few natural slides also.  The consequences of burial or even getting injured by these were minimal as far as what I saw as well as the observations I’ve heard from others that were out in the backcountry.  There was one report of a ski resort snow safety worker going for a short ride after accidentally triggering a wind slab out of bounds in Little Cottonwood.  No significant wet activity was observed.  (Click the Photos link for obs and photos from Thursday) AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>> WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 24 hrs Lingering wind slabs will be the main concern again today.  These shouldn’t be as sensitive as they were yesterday but last nights winds may have produced a fresh round that folks should watch for.  These will be manageable and for the most part won’t pose a real great threat.  Slope cuts will be a very effective tool again today.  Approaching these wind slabs from the top is the preferred technique rather then tickling them from below. WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 8 hrs While it looks like we’ll see a good amount of cloud cover again today, at this time of the season we always need to be aware of solar radiation heating the snow during any periods of clearing.  This can change the snow very rapidly making it unstable in a very short period of time.  Consider where you are or where you may be traveling if the skies decide to clear all of a sudden.  Sometimes you can see avalanche activity within a half an hour when the sun pokes through especially after fresh snowfall like we have now.  East through south through west aspects may produce wet activity during any clearing today. MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
UAC COMPILATION
NWS ZONAL FORECAST
SEASONAL Wx CHARTS The low pressure continues to rotate off to our east which will feed some moisture into our area mostly in the form of clouds along with a few snow flurries possible.  Winds look like they’ll stay in the 5 to 10 mph range from the north and northeast gradually shifting to the northwest and increasing a bit as the low gets pushed away from us to the east.  Temperatures stay fairly cool but will be somewhat warmer then yesterday with ridgetop highs making it to around 30.  This weekend we’ll see partly cloudy skies with slightly warmer temperatures.  A short wave trough moving through northern Utah Sunday night into Monday should produce a shot of snow. GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>> The Wasatch Powderbird Guides didn’t fly yesterday and if they can fly today, if cloud cover allows them, they’ll be in Silver, Days, Cardiff, Mineral, Grizzly White Pine, American Fork, Mill Creek and Cascade.  They may use two aircraft in the Tri-canyons today. For more info, call 742-2800. 

The Canyons Professional Ski Partol Association is hosting a fundraiser for the Friends of the Utah Avalalanche Center, Sunday April 1, at 7:30 at Side Car in Park City.

uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org). (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 on Saturday morning, and thanks for calling.

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.
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


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
March 31, 2007 - 6:48 am
SUMMARY >>> Danger by
  ASPECT & ELEVATION
BOTTOM LINE
on slopes over 35 degrees
  The avalanche danger is MODERATE today on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.  These drifts will be most widespread on northeast through southeasterly facing slopes along the higher ridgelines.  The avalanche danger will rapidly rise to MODERATE on and below steep sunny slopes with direct sun and daytime heating.  Slopes less steep than about 35 degrees have a generally LOW danger.

Forecaster: Evelyn Lees LINKS: -Danger scale- -Encyclopedia- -Text only-     CURRENT CONDITIONS >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO: NWS SNOW PAGESNOTEL MAP
Skies are partly cloudy this morning, and temperatures are pleasantly cool, in the low to mid 20’s at most stations.  Unfortunately, the westerly winds kicked up last night, with the highest peaks averaging 40 to 45 mph, gusting to 60.  Luckily, with a laminar flow, the speeds rapidly diminish with elevation, and at 10,000’ the hourly averages are in the 10-20 mph range, with gusts 25 to 30.  Cool temperatures and only intermittent, hit and miss sun have generally preserved the 6 to 10” of settled powder from the mid week storm.  However, some sunny slopes did get crusted, and there will be new wind damage, especially at the higher elevations.  But wind sheltered northerly and most easterly facing slopes should have excellent powder this morning.


RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
AVALANCHE LISTPHOTOSACCIDENTSSNOW PROFILES Only minimal avalanche activity was reported yesterday.   A few very shallow soft slabs, 2 to 6" deep and a few loose sluffs were triggered by people on steep slopes.  The brief appearance of the sun also managed to trigger a few damp sluffs.  With stronger winds and more sun today, avalanche conditions will be trickier and more serious.

AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>> WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 24 hrs The winds have crashed the powder party, creating sensitive drifts which are most widespread on easterly facing slopes and along the higher ridgelines.  Some of these drifts are large enough to knock you off balance and take you for a ride.  In the wrong terrain, this could mean over a cliff, into trees, or a burial in a terrain trap such as a gully.  Very careful slope cuts will be useful on many slopes, but the largest, deepest drifts should be avoided. With the potential for a crowded day in the backcountry, keep a careful eye out for people above and below you, so not to inadvertently bury anyone below you, or get buried by the party above.

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND Likely
  Unlikely Large  
Small Increasing
Danger Same Decreasing
Danger over the next 10 hrs Wet sluffs and slabs with daytime sun and heating are the second avalanche problem.  As the snow heats from the first direct sun in days and a 10 to 15 degree jump in temperatures, expect easily triggered wet sluffs and a few damp slabs on steep, sun exposed slopes.  The snow will heat up much more rapidly than one would expect, so as soon as it warms, quickly move to a cooler aspect.  Any periods of high thin clouds will heat the surface snow on the northerly facing slopes, too, making it more sensitive.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>> LINKS TO MORE INFO
UAC COMPILATION
NWS ZONAL FORECAST
SEASONAL Wx CHARTS Skies will be mostly sunny this morning, and then cloud up again this afternoon as a weak system approaches.  The northwesterly winds should gradually decrease throughout the morning, dropping into the 10 to 20 mph range and shifting to a more southwesterly direction.  Temperatures will warm into the mid 40’s at 8,000’ and the upper 20’s at 10,000’.  Mostly cloudy skies tonight, with a few snow flurries possible as a weak system crosses the area.  A slightly stronger system will send a cold front through the area Sunday night, with a chance for a few inches of snow.  

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>> The Wasatch Powderbird Guides didn’t fly yesterday and if they can fly today they’ll be in Silver, Days, Cardiff, Mineral, Grizzly, White Pine, American Fork and Cascade.  For more info, call 742-2800. 

The Canyons Professional Ski Partol Association is hosting a fundraiser for the Friends of the Utah Avalalanche Center, Sunday April 1, at 7:30 at Side Car in Park City.

uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org). (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 on Sunday morning, and thanks for calling.

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.
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


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