UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Forecast for the Skyline Area Mountains

Brett Kobernik
Issued by Brett Kobernik on
Monday morning, March 25, 2024
The overall avalanche danger is MODERATE.
Human triggered avalanches are possible but I don't think they will be all that likely.
Areas where the wind has drifted snow will be the most likely place to trigger a slide. Steep east facing slopes just below the ridges are the most suspect places.
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Moderate
Considerable
High
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Weather and Snow
Current Conditions: Another 5 inches of new snow trickled in over the last 24 hours bringing totals up to 10 inches since Saturday. The new snow was damp below 9000' on Sunday. Above that, it felt like winter with cold powder conditions on all aspects. The wind was slightly gusty in the afternoon which was drifting a little snow. The new snow has improved riding conditions. Skiing was quite good. I found snow machine conditions to be not quite as good because I was hitting the old frozen snow which felt chunky and a little unpredictable. Temperatures are in the upper teens this morning in the higher terrain.
Mountain Weather: We'll see clouds and periods of snow today and Tuesday. New snow will slowly accumulate and we could see another 3 to 7 inches of new snow by Wednesday morning. Wind will be light to moderate in speed from the northwest. High temperatures will get into the mid 20s. It looks like we'll have another chance at some snow accumulations Thursday night into Friday.
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Avalanche Problem #1
New Snow
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I found the new snow to be stable in areas I traveled on Sunday. I did not experience any cracking within the new snow and I did not see any new avalanches.
In the Salt Lake area mountains, there were a number of skiers that were caught in shallow avalanches on Sunday. This involved a density change of some sort from during the storm. I did not find this weakness during my Skyline fieldwork on Sunday. However, pay attention to the new snow. Use small steep test slopes (with no consequences) to see if you can get the new snow to crack or release. Look for any recent avalanches which would indicate unstable snow. The wind from the northwest was drifting some snow late on Sunday. Fresh drifts and slabs are the most likely places to trigger an avalanche today especially on more east facing slopes right below ridgelines.
Overall, it is not that dangerous out there IF you are paying attention and don't let your guard down.
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.