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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Evelyn Lees
Issued by Evelyn Lees on
Wednesday morning, January 9, 2013

Avalanche danger is LOW this morning, but will increase to Pockets of MODERATE for both wet loose avalanches and for new wind drifts as the day progresses. The new drifts will develop this afternoon and evening on mid and upper elevation northwest through northeasterly facing slopes. Warm temperatures today will also cause snow to slide off roofs, creating deep debris piles.

Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Special Announcements

UDOT Control Work Planned

UDOT will close Little Cottonwood Canyon Wed, 1-9-13, at 6:30 am for artillery firing to acquire target data. Backcountry access will be closed from Gate B to Grizzly Gulch. Restrictions should end by 8:00 am.

There is a Free Fireside Avalanche Chat at Black Diamond with Brett tomorrow night, focusing on a season review of weather and avalanches so far, and how to approach big terrain after persistent weak layers have been present.

Weather and Snow

The pre-storm warm up has started, with temperatures this morning in the twenties at all elevations. The winds are switching to the southwest and very light at the moment. Yesterday’s rime event created a thin to thick crust on the snow pack, and was quite variable by aspect and elevation, though westerly facing slopes and those above about 8,500’ were favored.

Recent Avalanches

The only avalanches reported from yesterday were roof-a-lanches – snow sliding off roofs at some of the lower mountain elevations as the snow started to warm for the first time in a while.

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Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

With plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures today, wet loose sluffs on a variety of aspects are possible – both natural and those triggered by people. This includes the shady slopes at lower and mid elevations that are warming for the first time – snow could be sensitive along steep road banks, creek bed walls and ravines. Expect roofs to continue to shed their snow. Increasing winds this afternoon will help offset some of the heating.

Avalanche Problem #2
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Much of the old snow surface is protected from erosion by a combination of old hard wind slabs, sun crusts, and now rime crusts – not too much snow to move around. But by late afternoon through the night, the southwesterly winds speeds may finally get strong enough to drift snow. Watch for and avoid drifts, especially widespread on north through easterly facing slopes, and mid elevations may have more snow available to drift than the high elevations.

Additional Information

It will be a beautiful morning, with clear skies, very light winds and temperatures on the increase. Highs today will be in the mid 30s at 10,000’ and close to 40 at 8,000’. The southwesterly winds will start to increase by noon, and by evening reach 15 to 25 mph averages, with gusts to 35 common. The highest ridgelines could average 35 mph, with gusts in the 50s. The strong winds will continue overnight, with gusts into the 70s. The strong cold front is forecast to arrive Thursday evening, with the heaviest snowfall Thursday night. Cold, low density snow could fall through Saturday morning. Storm totals of 1 to 2 feet of generally low density snow are possible, with total storm water amounts of 1 to 2 inches. Very cold temperatures expected Saturday, with highs 0 to 5 abov.e

General Announcements

Go to http://www.backcountry.com/utah-avalanche-center to get tickets from our partners at Park City, Beaver Mountain, Canyons, Sundance, and Wolf Mountain. All proceeds benefit the Utah Avalanche Center.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry - especially if you are adjacent to a ski area – please call the following teams to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks.

Salt Lake and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033), Canyons Resort Dispatch (435-615-3322)

Ogden – Snowbasin Patrol Dispatch (801-620-1017)

Powder Mountain Ski Patrol Dispatch (801-745-3773 ex 123)

Provo – Sundance Patrol Dispatch (801-223-4150)

Dawn Patrol Forecast Hotline, updated by 05:30: 888-999-4019 option 8.

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Daily observations are frequently posted by 10 pm each evening.

Subscribe to the daily avalanche advisory e-mail click HERE.

UDOT canyon closures UDOT at (801) 975-4838

Wasatch Powderbird Guides does daily updates about where they'll be operating on this blog http://powderbird.blogspot.com/ .

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory bysubmitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, or email by clicking HERE

Donate to your favorite non-profit –The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center. The UAC depends on contributions from users like you to support our work.

For a print version of this advisory click HERE.

This advisory is produced by the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. It describes only general avalanche conditions and local variations always exist. Specific terrain and route finding decisions should always be based on skills learned in a field-based avalanche class

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