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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Brett Kobernik
Issued by Brett Kobernik for
Wednesday, April 3, 2013

The avalanche danger is MODERATE this morning but may reach CONSIDERABLE with daytime heating. Natural avalanches are likely today. Slopes directly facing the sun will become unstable first. As the day progresses, even the new snow on the northerly slopes may become unstable. Avoid travel in confined terrain such as gullies and couliors and consider your escape/exit route if the snow becomes unstable.

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Special Announcements

Drew Hardesty has been working with UDOT and other agencies on proposed avalanche information signage at the base of the Cottonwood Canyons and perhaps other highways heading to popular trailheads. We are looking for a little more public feedback on our two 'yes/no question' survey. CLICK HERE FOR THE SURVEY

Gabe Garcia is doing a study on an unusual day that occurred in upper Little Cottonwood on Nov 13, 2012 involving numerous human triggered avalanches with injuries and a fatality. SURVEY

Weather and Snow

Skies have cleared out and temperatures are hovering around freezing give or take a little. The annoying east northeast winds that picked up yesterday morning did their damage and have slowed and are switching more northwest. The sun did come out for periods yesterday afternoon and along with warm 'spring like' temperatures, you'll most likely find a crust on the surface on many aspects at the low and mid elevations and sunny aspects up high.

Recent Avalanches

There was evidence of a natural avalanche cycle that occurred during the last storm with tracks and debris piles visible under the new snow. The new snow did become sensitive as the stiff east winds whipped it into slabs yesterday morning with a number of human triggered soft slab avalanches, a couple of which did release remotely from a distance. None of these were all that wide but were up to 16" deep and the debris was very dense. It was to the point where you didn't want to mess with these a whole lot. Click on images for details: Left- Eric Shmookler Right- Mark White

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Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Daytime heating of the new snow will most likely make the new snow unstable and produce natural avalanches of some sort. It's difficult to say how active things will get so the best approach is to expect avalanche activity and pay close attention to the signs of instability as they start to appear. As the newest snow becomes damp, it's time to start paying attention to where you are. 'Rollerballing' often precedes wet activity. Also watch the northerly facing slopes as they may become unstable as the day goes on.

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

You may find that yesterday's wind slabs may still be sensitive this morning. Also, with the warming today, this may also enhance their sensitivity as the day progresses.

Additional Information

A ridge of high pressure will affect our area over the next two days with clear skies and warming temperatures. Today's highs will get up around 50 at 8000 feet and 40 along the ridges. Northwest winds will continue to shift more west and will be in the light to moderate speed category. An active pattern starts on Friday with a weakening wave that may produce a little snow and then some more waves for later in the weekend and into next week.

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.

Twitter Updates for your mobile phone - DETAILS

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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