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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Evelyn Lees
Issued by Evelyn Lees for
Saturday, March 16, 2019
The avalanche danger is LOW early this morning, but will rapidly increase to MODERATE for Wet Snow avalanches in almost all steep backcountry terrain.
Travel advice is straight forward: when the snow becomes damp or wet where you are, get off of and out from under steep slopes. Wet sluffs that can carry and bury a person will be easy to trigger and natural avalanches will occur. Head to low angle terrain and avoid run out zones like the bottom of gullies.
On upper elevation, shady slopes isolated shallow soft slab avalanches and sluffs can be triggered, serious in steep terrain.
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Catch up on the past week's snow and avalanche activity with Greg’s Week in Review. Check it out here.
Weather and Snow
The switch flipped, and spring is here - yesterday’s high-angle sun destroyed the powder on all but the steeper, shady upper elevation slopes, above about 9,000’. Elsewhere, you will find supportable and breakable crusts early, that will melt into sloppy, wet snow as the day heats up.
This morning, under clear skies, temperatures are in the low twenties at the mid and upper elevations, 10 to 15 degrees warmer than yesterday morning. Where the cold air has pooled in the canyon bottoms, temperatures are in the teens. Highs today will be near 40 at 8,000’ and the upper 20s at 10,000’. Winds are calm, and should remain that way through the day. The next chance for snow isn’t until mid week.
Recent Avalanches
Yesterday, the largest and most dramatic slides were in the continuously steep, southerly facing terrain of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Wet loose sluffs started releasing by around noon, running 1,000’ to 2000’ vertical, with large piles of cement like debris. On the south face of Superior, skiers descending after noon triggered wet sluffs that ran 2,000’ vertical. Elsewhere in the backcountry, medium sized natural and skier triggered wet loose sluffs ran, with the slick crusts beneath making for long running slides. Explosive work at the resorts was able to release some large cornices.
An intentionally triggered wet loose sluff. Notice how long running it is, as it entrains snow all the way down slopes. Mark White video. Check out all the recent observations here.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
With wet snow, it’s a balance - the initial shock of sun and heating on the dry, cold snow is over, so normally wet loose avalanche activity would decrease. But today’s 10 to 15 degree head start on heating will keep wet snow active.
Today’s Wet Snow avalanche activity is PREDICTABLE and AVOIDABLE. As the day heats and the sun hits the slopes, it’s guaranteed the snow become wet, loose and sloppy. You will be able to triggered wet loose sluffs on steep slopes and some natural wet snow avalanches will occur.
Avoidance: when the snow becomes wet, move off steep slopes to lower angle terrain. Be aware of what is above you, and avoid travel beneath steep slopes and gullies. Plan your exits carefully to avoid steep terrain at the mid and low elevations, especially gullies and drainages. Even small wet sluffs pack a punch, and can push you around or take you for a ride down slope or into trees. Start early and finish early.
With a multi-day “heat wave” in progress, roofs will shed their remaining snow and cornices will become more sensitive and avoid travel below glide cracks.
Avalanche Problem #2
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
There is inherent risk in mountain travel - early in the morning, slide-for-life’s may be possible on the hard crusts. On steep, upper elevation northerly facing slopes, there is potential to trigger a shallow dry snow slabs and loose sluffs in isolated places. Exact terrain matters - even a small slide can have serious consequences in big, steep terrain or if you’re above cliffs.
Additional Information
Don’t forget your skin wax and scraper today!
General Announcements
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This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
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