Utah Avalanche Center
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January 15, 2007 - 6:35 am Today the avalanche danger is generally LOW with a localized MODERATE danger of loose snow avalanches and shallow new wind drifts in the higher terrain. Human triggered slides will be possible.
Drew Hardesty
Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia High pressure will continue to build over the region as warm air aloft moves in to enhance and strengthen inversions over the valleys. The higher mountain stations have temps a few degrees below zero while the thermometers at the bases of some of the alpine drainages have plummeted to 14 below. The klister will have to stay in the box yet another day. The northwesterly winds bumped just along the highest ridgelines overnight into the 20-30 mph range with gusts into the 40’s, but are light in more sheltered areas. Riding conditions are about the same as yesterday – best on the sheltered shady lower angled slopes that weren’t blasted by last week’s wind. The cold temps and low angle of the sun have prevented the sunny slopes from becoming crusted while surface hoar glitters on much of the terrain.
One skier in American Fork managed to find and trigger a foot deep 20’ wide hard slab on the sidewall of a steep gulley yesterday, but that was about it, other than some skier-induced sluffing on some steeper slopes.
24 Hrs Those traveling today along the highest ridgelines should watch for some new drifting in the low density snow, primarily on the southerly and easterly aspects.
24 Hrs Weakening and faceting of the snow surface will allow sluffing to continue in the steepest terrain. Sunny skies will prevail with 8000’ temps reaching into the teens and the 10,000’ temps heading to ten degrees. Along the highest ridgelines, the northerly winds will blow 20-30mph until about midday. The extended outlook looks pretty bleak. The next system moves in about mid-week and splits. The northern branch grazes northern Utah Wednesday/Thursday while the southern branch closes off and spins off the coast of southern California. The models suggest that Low moves inland on Friday and opens up, kicking moisture into Utah from the southwest. Yesterday, the Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in AF, Snake Creek, and along the Cascade ridgeline. Today, they’ll return, within a possible home run out White Pine. If you have questions regarding their areas of operation you can contact them at 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 will update this advisory by 7:30 on Tuesday morning, and 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.
Drew Hardesty
Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia High pressure will continue to build over the region as warm air aloft moves in to enhance and strengthen inversions over the valleys. The higher mountain stations have temps a few degrees below zero while the thermometers at the bases of some of the alpine drainages have plummeted to 14 below. The klister will have to stay in the box yet another day. The northwesterly winds bumped just along the highest ridgelines overnight into the 20-30 mph range with gusts into the 40’s, but are light in more sheltered areas. Riding conditions are about the same as yesterday – best on the sheltered shady lower angled slopes that weren’t blasted by last week’s wind. The cold temps and low angle of the sun have prevented the sunny slopes from becoming crusted while surface hoar glitters on much of the terrain.
One skier in American Fork managed to find and trigger a foot deep 20’ wide hard slab on the sidewall of a steep gulley yesterday, but that was about it, other than some skier-induced sluffing on some steeper slopes.
24 Hrs Those traveling today along the highest ridgelines should watch for some new drifting in the low density snow, primarily on the southerly and easterly aspects.
24 Hrs Weakening and faceting of the snow surface will allow sluffing to continue in the steepest terrain. Sunny skies will prevail with 8000’ temps reaching into the teens and the 10,000’ temps heading to ten degrees. Along the highest ridgelines, the northerly winds will blow 20-30mph until about midday. The extended outlook looks pretty bleak. The next system moves in about mid-week and splits. The northern branch grazes northern Utah Wednesday/Thursday while the southern branch closes off and spins off the coast of southern California. The models suggest that Low moves inland on Friday and opens up, kicking moisture into Utah from the southwest. Yesterday, the Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in AF, Snake Creek, and along the Cascade ridgeline. Today, they’ll return, within a possible home run out White Pine. If you have questions regarding their areas of operation you can contact them at 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 will update this advisory by 7:30 on Tuesday morning, and 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.