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Forecast for the Skyline Area Mountains

Brett Kobernik
Issued by Brett Kobernik on
Saturday morning, March 8, 2014

Overall, the avalanche danger is MODERATE today. The new snow will become unstable due to heating today so get off steep slopes as they start to become too damp. An isolated CONSIDERABLE danger still remains for triggering a deep slab avalanche. Keep slope angles under 35 degrees to avoid this issue.

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Special Announcements

I am sad to report that a snowmobiler died in an avalanche in the Uintas on Friday. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. We have very little details but will visit the sight today and compile a full report.

Weather and Snow

Overnight we had clear skies overnight with temperatures dipping into the upper teens. Winds are light and variable. A storm added about 6 inches of medium density snow Thursday night. Clouds hung around most of the day on Friday and kept the new snow from becoming too damp, especially at the mid and upper elevations. That will change today with lots of sun in store.

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Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

The sun heating the new snow will most likely make it unstable to the point we may see natural loose wet snow avalanches. The key to being in the mountains in the spring is to move off of slopes as they become damp. Up high, east facing is the first to heat up, then south mid morning then west later on. All aspects can heat up and become unstable at the lower elevations. Make sure you have an exit strategy planned when slopes become wet. Avoid being below steep slopes and in confined terrain such as gullies where something may funnel down from above.

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

The deep snowpack stability has improved greatly on the Skyline over the last few weeks. The old weak snow from early in the season has gained some strength especially in the deeper snowpack locations. However, there are still places where a person may be able to effect those deep weak layers and trigger a large avalanche. These would be shallow snowpack locations in very steep upper elevation terrain that face northwest through northeast. Chances for triggering one of these are low but consequences high.

Additional Information

We'll have a beautiful day in the mountains with clear skies, light north winds and ridgetop temperatures into the mid 30s. Sunday will be mostly the same with temperatures into the low 40s. It looks like we'll have some unsettled weather early next week that may bring some more snow however, most of the storm stays north of the Skyline.

General Announcements

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The information in this advisory is from the US Forest Service which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

This advisory will be updated by 7:00 AM Saturday, March 15th, 2014 or sooner if conditions warrant.

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