The
Utah Avalanche Center Home page is: http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/
(click on) Utah Avalanche Center in Logan for our home
page
Logan
Hello and good morning, this is Toby Weed of the
Current Conditions: Winds
diminished yesterday as they switched around from the northwest and snowfall
ended for a time yesterday evening. Snowfall will continue today, but there is also
likely to be a break in the action and even a little clearing and afternoon
sunshine is possible. The CSI weather station on
Avalanche Conditions: It
was another active day in the
Although
I suspect that heating on Saturday destroyed the frost crystals and sugary snow
on many slopes especially at lower elevations, light snow fell with little or
no wind earlier in the weekend, and in some areas it now may be nicely
preserving weak layers that formed on or near the snow surface during the
recent high pressure. (snow photos)
If
the sun peaks out from the clouds, greenhousing could quickly warm already
saturated snow on mid and lower elevation slopes. Wet avalanches will become likely today on
many slopes if the surface snow is further warmed. Watch for roller balling and other wet activity
on similar slopes, and leave if the snow on the slope you’re on gets
sloppy. Remember that wet snow conditions
can deteriorate rapidly during the day, often making the exit from upper
elevations in the backcountry more dangerous than the entrance.
High
winds and heavy snowfall yesterday formed slabs in avalanche starting zones,
especially in upper elevation exposed terrain.
On some slopes, even non-drifted heavy new snow may not adhere well to
underlying crusts or sugary old snow. Stiffer
wind slab, new snow soft slab avalanches, and wet and dry point-release avalanches
are likely to pick up steam and could run fast and far today on existing hard or
crusted bed surfaces, especially on big slopes.
So, you’ll want to avoid travel below steep slopes and stay clear of
gullies which might collect and funnel long-running avalanches.
.
Bottom Line: There’s a CONSIDERABLE danger in the
backcountry, and triggered wind
slab or storm snow avalanches are possible on many steep upper elevation slopes
with significant deposits of wind-blown or heavy new snow. Solar
warming today could also cause a CONSIDERABLE
danger of wet avalanches at lower and mid elevation on steep slopes with
saturated snow. Even relatively small new snow avalanches are
likely to pick up steam and run far and fast, especially on big slopes. Use elevated caution in avalanche terrain and
avoid travel on or below steep slopes in the backcountry.
Mountain Weather:
The National Weather Service has continued a Winter Storm Warning for the mountains around
Upcoming avalanche class: February
29th-March 1st, Avalanche Basics,
Check out the images page for photos of some of
this season’s avalanches.
Go to
the Avalanche Encyclopedia if you have any questions about terms I use in the advisory.
I'm very interested to
know what you're seeing out there. Please e-mail observations to me
at [email protected] or leave me a message at 755-3638, especially if you see or
trigger an avalanche in the backcountry. We keep all observations confidential.
This advisory will
expire in 24 hours from the posting time.
The information in this advisory is from the
U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This
advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always
occur.
