In
partnership with: The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of
Public Safety Division of Comprehensive Emergency Management,
To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day free of charge, visit: http://www.mailermailer.com/x?oid=16351h.
For photos of avalanches and avalanche
phenomenon, visit: http://www.avalanche.org/%7Euac/photos_03-04.htm (Updated
2/12)
Photos sent in by observers throughout the
season visit: http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/obphotos/observer.html.
(Updated
2/12)
For a list of backcountry avalanche
activity, visit: http://www.avalanche.org/%7Euac/Avalanche_List.htm.
(Updated 2/12)
Avalanche advisory
Sunday, February 15, 2004, 7:30 am
Good
morning, this is Evelyn Lees with the
Current Conditions:
Under clear skies, temperatures are mostly in the teens this morning, with single digits at highest elevations and in the mountain valley bottoms. Winds are generally less than 10 miles per hour, from a northwesterly direction. Only the highest peaks have wind speeds of 15 to 25, with gusts into the 30’s. Turning and riding conditions are still very good on sheltered shady slopes in recrystalized powder, though many of the heavily tracked slopes remind you how close they are to Was Angeles.
Avalanche Conditions:
Yesterday, there was a distinct increase in
avalanche activity. In the
My field work this week has found remarkable variation with in just a few miles in the central Wasatch. Some slopes have very strong snow, where steep lines can be skied and boarded safely. Other slopes have very weak snow, where I was unable to isolate a column in my snow pits. If you’re planning on hitting the steep slopes today, take the time dig down and assess the strength of both the January rain/rime crust and the near surface facets. It doesn’t take a back hoe, and it might just keep you out of trouble.
Sluffing of the surface snow will continue to be a problem at all elevations on very steep shady slopes. Also watch and avoid the few shallow wind drifts that may form along the highest ridges.
Bottom
Line for the Wasatch Range, including the
The avalanche danger is moderate on northwest through easterly facing slopes, steeper than about 35 degrees. While there are only isolated areas where you could trigger slab avalanche, carefully evaluate any steep slope and remember that slides are being triggered from a distance from lower angle slopes. On slopes less steep than 35 degrees, the avalanche danger is generally low.
Mountain Weather:
Another weak disturbance will move through the area late this afternoon and tonight, bringing a flurry or two. Clouds will increase later today, with 10,000’ highs in the mid teens and 8,000’ highs near 30. Winds will be from a northwesterly direction, in the 10 to 20 mph range, and may increase towards evening. More clouds and much warmer temperatures are in the forecast for Monday. The earliest chance for significant snow appears to be mid week.
For specific digital forecasts for the
General Information:
Yesterday,
the Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in Mineral,
If you are getting into the backcountry, please give us a call and let us know what you’re seeing, especially if you trigger an avalanche. You can leave a message at 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140. Or you can e-mail an observation to uac@avalanche .org, or you can fax an observation to 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.
I will update this advisory Monday morning.
Thanks for calling.
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