Dangerous avalanche conditions are occurring or are imminent.

Backcountry travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.

THE LA SAL AVALANCHE CENTER HAS ISSUED AN AVALANCHE WARNING IS FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF

SOUTHEASTERN UTAH INCLUDING THE LA SAL AND ABAJO MOUNTAINS

UP TO 2 FEET OF NEW SNOW COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS HAS OVERLOADED BURIED

LAYERS OF WEAKER OLD SNOW, CREATING LARGE AND VERY

DANGEROUS AVALANCHES. BACKCOUNTRY TRAVELERS SHOULD STAY OFF OF AND

OUT FROM UNDERNEATH ANY SLOPE STEEPER THAN ABOUT 30 DEGREES.

LINGERING AVALANCHE DANGER MAY PERSIST THROUGH THE WEEK.

Please note the the LSAC has changed the date of our 3-day AIARE Level 1 avalanche class from the last weekend of January to the first weekend of February. The dates are now February 5,6,7. Click here for more info.

Click here to see the newly revised North American Avalanche Danger Scale.

High Avalanche Danger exists in the Mountains of SE Utah right now including the La Sal and Abajo Mountains. Up to 2 feet or more of new snow has been measured from 2 winter storms and more is on the way today. Not a good time to head into the mountains with out expert routefinding skills, provided you can get up there.

Winter Storms continue to hammer the Southwest and the Abajo Mountains have picked up over two feet (25") of dense snow containing 3.2" of water. The La Sal are not far behind with 17 inches of snow containing 1.6" of water. At our Gold Basin study plot as of yesterday afternoon, we'd measured 18" of new snow containing 1.8 inches of water. Things are really stacking up deeply out there. There is even more snow at higher elevations. Large snowfall accumulation is forecast for the next 36 hours.

Yesterday on our tour we had a whiteout drive, blower powder, tough trailbreaking and heavy snowfall. Expect similar conditions today. It is worth noting that winds have come WAY up since yesterday so driving conditions are likely to be even tougher, good snow harder to find, and anything steep enough to ski snow this deep might kill you. It's a good day to go bowling.

Roads in the have NOT been cleared as of yesterday afternoon. SJ County will get there as soon as they get their roads down south cleared out. Driving conditions yesterday were SPORTY.

Grooming. Uh, no. Sunday's efforts will be all but gone.

Check out more info on avalanche classification here.

In limited visibility yesterday we saw one slide on the west side of TUKNO, class R2D2+.

Lots of cracking and collapsing out there. Expect PLENTY of activity that we can't see.

National Weather Service Forecast for 10,000 Ft. : BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT

Today: Snow and widespread blowing snow. High near 29. Breezy, with a south southeast wind between 20 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible. Tonight: Snow and widespread blowing snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 23. Windy, with a south southeast wind between 20 and 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 9 to 13 inches possible. Friday: Snow and widespread blowing snow. Some thunder is also possible. High near 26. Breezy, with a south wind between 20 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible. Friday Night: Snow and areas of blowing snow. Low around 12. South southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. Saturday: A 50 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 16. South wind around 10 mph becoming west. Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 10. Sunday: A 30 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 18.

As the season gets underway, we would like to thank the hard working volunteers at the Friends of the La Sal Avalanche Center. Without their help the center would not meet it's funding or staffing requirements. Thanks all! If you would like more information about donating to the Friends or simply helping out, click here.

Local Avalanche Education:

LSAC Level One Avalanche Class - 3 days, February 5-7 - Call 435-636-3363 to reserve a spot or get more info.

This advisory will expire in 48 hours!