The avalanche danger is generally MODERATE with pocket of CONSIDERABLE danger on any slope approaching 35 degrees or steeper with recent deposits of wind drifted snow and a CONSIDERABLE danger of deep slab avalanches on any slope facing generally north through east, above 8,500 feet that has not yet slid since Christmas.

We got a welcome fresh coat of paint last night to spruce up the mountains for the weekend.  Between 4 and 10 inches of 8-10 percent, new snow fell last night with the passing cold front and light snow showers are still falling in some areas.  Snowbasin reported 4 inches of new snow.  The pre-existing snow was exhausting, wind-damaged snow with dense, unsupportable, wind slabs that made for difficult trail breaking and poor riding conditions unless you were on a wide vehicle like a snowboard or snowmobile.  The colder temperatures and new snow make things much more supportable.  Ridge top winds are 15 mph from the northwest and temperatures have dropped to 15 degrees.

The dense, wind slabs seized up fairly quickly yesterday, making them stubborn to trigger.  Nevertheless, some skiers kicking cornices in Rocky Point—a backcountry area near Alta triggered one wind slab about 2 feet deep and 50 feet wide.  Avalanche control at one of the Little Cottonwood Canyon resorts continued to pull out a couple more, monster, deep slabs on east facing slopes and most resorts were able to trigger sizable wind slabs with explosives including along the upper ridge of Snowbasin.  Not a lot of people were out yesterday in the backcountry because of the horrid, dense, slabby snow.

Snow will continue this morning with a couple more inches added up until it clears out by this afternoon.  Ridge top winds will blow 10-15 from the northwest with ridge top temperatures near 15 degrees and near 10 degrees tonight.  We should have clear to partly cloudy skies through the weekend. The extended forecast calls says that this is the last significant snow for at least 10 days.  We may get a couple weak shots early in the week but it will likely be mostly clouds.

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UDOT highway avalanche control work info can be found by calling (801) 975-4838. Our statewide toll free line is 1-888-999-4019 (early morning, option 8).

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Your snow and avalanche observations help everyone in the backcountry community.  Please let us know what you're seeing by leaving a message at (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, or email us at uac@utahavalanchecenter.org. (Fax 801-524-6301).

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.  This advisory does not apply to ski areas or highways were avalanche control is normally conducted.

Evelyn Lees will update this advisory by 7:30 tomorrow morning.