UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Forecast for the Skyline Area Mountains

Brett Kobernik
Issued by Brett Kobernik for
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
The avalanche danger rating is MODERATE today on the Skyline.
Wind drifts and wind slabs formed on Tuesday and may still be sensitive to a human trigger today.
Continue to avoid steep slopes on all aspects and elevations where the snow feels stiff or there are drifts or "pillows".
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Considerable
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Weather and Snow
Current Conditions: Snowfall started overnight and there's a trace to a couple of inches of new snow. Storm totals since Sunday are 12 to 18 inches. The wind was strong on Tuesday from the west and drifted a lot of snow. This morning the wind is from the south or southeast and is calm to light in speed. Temperatures have been in the low to mid teens over the last 24 hours.

Mountain Weather: Today's storm is looking less impressive to me than it once did. We'll see periods of snow that should add up to 4 to 6 inches by Thursday. Wind will be mostly light from the south and southwest. Temperatures should get to around 20˚F or a bit higher. We'll have partly cloudy skies Thursday, a chance for snow Friday and mostly cloudy skies through the weekend.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Recently formed wind drifts and wind slabs are your biggest concern today. I found some REALLY deep drifts on Tuesday while doing fieldwork. None of them cracked but I wasn't on real steep slopes. I would give these another day or two to stabilize before I would trust them to stay in place.
There were reports of collapsing in lower elevations on Tuesday. The lower elevations have a much shallower and weaker snowpack so it is important to not let your guard down if you are recreating in lower terrain. Avoid steep slopes with recent deposits of wind drifted snow in the lower elevations just as you would in the higher elevations.
General Announcements
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.