BOTTOM LINE

Danger by aspect and elevation on slopes approaching 35° or steeper.
(click HERE for tomorrow's danger rating)

Danger Rose Tutorial

Avalanche dangers remain CONSIDERABLE or Level 3. Although we are in a period of declining danger, we have persistent weak layers buried in our SE Utah snowpack that must be taken into consideration. Conditions for skiing and riding are greatly improved but avalanche terrain must be treated with respect at the moment.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

Cold Temperatures again this morning will be the dominant theme. It is one degree F this morning at 9800 feet in the La Sals, It is -5 at the Pre-Laurel weather station at 11,700 ft. and it is 4 degrees F at 8600 ft in the Abajos at Camp Jackson. Dress warm folks the high temperature is forecast for 22 degrees at 10,000 feet. Skiing and riding conditions are great, with 8 inches of new snow in the La Sals and the winds have finally let up. Check your partner for frostbite! We have 62" of snow at our Gold Basin Study Plot in the La Sals and we measured just under 8" of new snow in the last storm. We at about 108% of normal.

Roads to all SE Utah mountain accesses have been opened up including Geyser Pass, La Sal Eastside and Abajo north end access.

Initial post storm grooming has been done with the roller only so the track is packed for skate skiing only. The entire nordic track has been rolled though so we're looking good for more grooming before the weekend. Thanks Matt and Jesse.

RECENT ACTIVITY

Reports of slides on N. Facing aspects of Gold Basin including Red Snow Cirque and Middle Cirque. Cracking and "Whoomphing" (loud collapses) also reported along Laurel Highway from Tuesday. Thanks for the obs!

You can submit photos and snowpack or avalanche observations here. Send 'em in!!

THREAT #1

WHERE

PROBABILITY

SIZE

TREND

Over the next 48 hours.

This is the tough part, lowering the hazard after a storm when you KNOW there are weak layers buried in the snowpack. We have buried surface hoar and buried faceted crystals that formed between the Christmas and New Year's Day storms and during our extended January high pressure that are now buried and preserved in our snowpack. These persistent weak layers are not to be trusted and instability (avalanche potential) can remain for several days, even weeks, on these layers in our continental snowpack environment.

While the likelihood of natural avalanches is lessening with time (snow grains bonding) and cold temperatures (decreases avalanche activity) I am hesitant to take the strong possibility of Human Triggered avalanches out of the forecast. Winds are dying down and cold temperatures often lock up the snowpack, but confidence is low at best that this avalanche cycle is over and the slide you trigger could be large. We are keeping the above treeline danger rating in the La Sals at CONSIDERABLE (level 3) to reflect these possibilities. Expect to find pockets on CONSIDERABLE (level 3) danger at treeline and in any other wind affected areas. The winds have blown and there has been significant wind drifting until less than 36 hours ago. Remember that SE Utah is no place to push it, please ski and ride conservatively.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

NOAA MOUNTAIN WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE LA SALS @10,000FT:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 22. North northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 10. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north. Friday: Sunny, with a high near 32. North northwest wind around 5 mph. Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 14. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 39. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 20. Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 43. Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 23. Monday: Sunny, with a high near 44.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

We will update this message Friday morning.

La Sal Mountain Ski Hut Open House @ Tag-a-Long Tours Tomasaki Cabin Feb 12th & 13. www.tagalong.com

If you see an avalanche or would like to share any snowpack observations (please do!) you can call us at 435-636-3363, e-mail Dave at : dave@utahavalanche center.org, or use the backcountry observations form here. These observations really help!

This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

This advisory provided by the USDA Forest Service, in partnership with:

The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, Utah Division of Emergency Management, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake Unified Fire Authority and the friends of the La Sal Avalanche Center. See our Sponsors Page for a complete list.