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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Issued by Bruce Tremper for
Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Avoid:
1) Any steep slope with recent wind deposits, which will look smooth and rounded
2) stay off of, and out from underneath, any steep slope that is getting wet from sun and warm temperatures.

You can always find safer terrain on slopes less than 30 degrees not locally connected, or underneath, steeper terrain.

Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Weather and Snow

I was pleasantly surprised yesterday that snow conditions remained dry with dense powder on upper elevation, wind and sun-sheltered slopes. Even the south facing slopes were creamy and moist later in the day but sun crusted in the morning. Yesterday the wind came up and blew fairly hard from the southwest much of the day, which created some wind damage in upper elevation terrain. Winds have dropped significantly to 10 mph from the southwest but still blowing 15, gusting to 30 at the highest elevations. Temperatures remain warm with highs in the 40's and lows in the mid 20's. (You should bookmark the Snow Page for great one-stop-shopping for current conditions)

Here is the past 3-day temperature trend for 6,800'

Here is the 7-day temperature trend at Alta Collins

Recent Avalanches

There's never a dull moment in the Wasatch. Yesterday, even though the winds were not "supposed" to blow hard, it's spring, after all. If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes. A skier high in the Birthday Chutes in White Pine of Little Cottonwood Canyon, triggered a hard wind slab and rode it down 800 vertical feet spraining an ankle. But he skied out on his own. We're very happy things turned out OK. I want to especially thank Aaron Rice for submitting a fabulous accident report, even though he was not part of the party that triggered the avalanche.

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Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Yesterday's clouds and wind kept wet activity at bay but today we should see much more sun with much less wind. With a foot of new snow and very cold temperatures last weekend the new snow is warming up, some of it for the first time. Forecasting weather in spring is notoriously uncertain so we often use if-then statements: IF the weather forecast verifies--sun, light wind and few clouds--THEN we should see some wet sluffs and occasional wet slabs within the new snow, especially on steep slopes that face into the sun.

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

Yesterday, stiff winds from the southwest deposited wind drifted snow onto downwind terrain in the upper elevation, wind-exposed terrain. These wind slabs are usually easy to recognize and avoid. Wind slabs are smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow or feel "slabby". They can also range from being soft to very hard. You can always brush up on avalanche topics in our Encyclopedia. As always, avoid any steep slopes with recent wind deposits.

Additional Information

Trying to forecast famously changeable spring weather is a fool's errand at best. But it looks like we will have mostly sunny skies this morning with--guess what--changeable and variable clouds in the afternoon, maybe even a snowflake or two, or then again, maybe not. Temperatures should be in the 40's with light winds--or then again, maybe not. You get the picture. In spring you get what you get.

The one thing I can say with confidence is that we will have continued changeable, spring-like weather for the next few days. If you don't like it, wait 5 minutes. It appears we will have a better chance for snow Monday and Tuesday but even so, we don't see any significant snow in the forecast.

General Announcements

Go to http://www.backcountry.com/utah-avalanche-center to get EVEN MORE DISCOUNTED tickets from our partners at Beaver Mountain and Sundance. All proceeds benefit the Utah Avalanche Center.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry - especially if you are adjacent to a ski area – please call the following teams to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks.

Salt Lake and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033), Canyons Resort Dispatch (435-615-3322)

Ogden – Snowbasin Patrol Dispatch (801-620-1017)

Powder Mountain Ski Patrol Dispatch (801-745-3772 ex 123)

Provo – Sundance Patrol Dispatch (801-223-4150)

Dawn Patrol Forecast Hotline, updated by 05:30: 888-999-4019 option 8.

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Daily observations are frequently posted by 10 pm each evening.

Subscribe to the daily avalanche advisory e-mail click HERE.

UDOT canyon closures UDOT at (801) 975-4838

Wasatch Powderbird Guides does daily updates about where they'll be operating on this blog http://powderbird.blogspot.com/ .

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet.

Donate to your favorite non-profit –The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center. The UAC depends on contributions from users like you to support our work.

For a print version of this advisory click HERE.

This advisory is produced by the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. It describes only general avalanche conditions and local variations always exist. Specific terrain and route finding decisions should always be based on skills learned in a field-based avalanche class.

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