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
keeping
you on top
AVALANCHE ADVISORY
Saturday,
December 22, 2007 7:30 am
Good morning, this is
There will be a local
highway block in Big Cottonwood canyon for a few minutes this morning around 8
am for control work in the Stairs Gulch slide path. Please avoid travel in that area this
morning.
Current Conditions:
Clear
skies have brought cold temperatures to the mountains, with most stations
coming in at 0 to 10 below this morning.
The northwesterly winds are generally less than 15 mph, except for a few
of the highest peaks, which have speeds in the 20 to 30 mph range. New snow totals since mid week are about 3
1/2 in the Cottonwoods and 2-3
Avalanche Discussion:
Yesterday, there were
no human triggered avalanches reported from the backcountry, though all reports
I received were from people wisely exercising caution. There were, however, big deep slides failing
on facets near the ground from explosive control work at the resorts in the
While the new snow is
continuing to strengthen and settle, 3 feet in 3 days means there still are
some new snow concerns. First, avoid any
slope with wind drifts, which were still cracking yesterday. Also, some slopes still signs of poor bonding
to the old snow surface from Tuesday, consisting of small facets or thin sun
crusts. And finally, as the day warms,
the snow on the steep sunny slopes a may become more sensitive, and it will be easier
to trigger snow slides on the steep slopes.
There also continue to
be places where a person could still trigger a slide on the weak facets near
the ground. These would be in shallower
snowpack areas, including steep rollovers or in shallow rocky areas, on the
steep, upper elevation shady slopes. A
slide triggered in a shallow area will propagate into the deeper snow pack,
resulting in large, dangerous slides 3 to 5 feet deep.
Bottom Line for the
Today is
the day Sun, Snow and Saturday it is the perfect
The
avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees,
on upper elevation northwest, north, and northeasterly facing slopes where
avalanches could break out 3 to 5 feet deep.
Also, avoid any steep slope with drifts of wind blown snow, which will
be most widespread in open mid and upper elevation terrain with an easterly
component. Other slopes steeper than
about 35 degrees have a MODERATE danger, and
you will need to carefully evaluate them as you travel, and be willing to
change your plan.
Mountain Weather:
Skies will be clear
this morning, with temperatures warming into the low 20s at 8,000 and the
single digits at 10,000 today. Winds will
be from the northwest, less than 15 mph at most mountain locations. However, the highest peaks and ridges may
have speeds in the 20 to 30 mph range, with gusts in the 40s until about noon. Clouds will start to increase this afternoon
ahead of a fast moving system that will bring another 6 of snow tonight into
Sunday morning, with slightly stronger northwesterly winds. Another medium size storm should impact the
area on Monday and Monday night.
Announcements:
Wasatch Powderbirds will operate outside of the
For an avalanche education class list, click HERE.
If you want to get this avalanche advisory e-mailed to you daily click HERE.
The UAC has temporary job openings for doing avalanche outreach in more rural
areas. Click HERE for info.
UDOT 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 our classic text
advisory click HERE.
If youre getting out and see anything we should know about please let us
know. You can leave a message at (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, or email us at [email protected]. (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.