A Special Avalanche Advisory continues for all the mountains of Utah today. Large avalanches can still be triggered by people on slopes approaching 35 degrees. These avalanches are responsible for two fatalities this week. A very persistent weak snowpack will remain unstable for some time to come. People should continue to avoid steep avalanche terrain this weekend.

Because of the severity and sensitivity of the large avalanches occurring, there are pockets of a HIGH danger in the backcountry. Slopes approaching 35 degrees that face west through north through southeast should be avoided. Do not go below these slopes either as many of the avalanches are running well into the bottoms of the avalanche paths.

Temperatures are around 20 degrees at many mountain locations and winds are light and variable but mostly from the south or southeast along the peaks.

A snowmobiler is in critical condition after triggering a large avalanche on Grandview Peak that buried him. Wasatch Powderbird Guides were in the area and assisted in the rescue by performing a beacon search and digging up the victim. (Details are HERE)

One other avalanche occurred during helicopter explosive testing in Mary Ellen Gulch on Friday. It produced an avalanche that was 3 to 4 feet deep and 400 feet wide running full track.

We'll have partly cloudy to mostly cloudy skies today. Ridgetop temperatures will be in the mid to upper 20s. Winds start out light and increase through the day from the southwest. A small storm will move through the area tonight into Sunday producing a few inches of new snow. A number of disturbances will move through next week with none of them really looking like they'll produce much in the way of snow accumulation.

We desperately need to fund several projects. So be sure to attend the après-ski fundraiser at Snowbird for the Utah Avalanche Center, Saturday, February 6, 4:30-7, Hours d’oeuvres, beer, wine, music and silent auction. Golden Cliff, Cliff Lodge, $50. More information. Purchase tickets HERE.

Discount Lift tickets: Ski Utah, Backcountry.com, Alta, Deer Valley, Park City, The Canyons, Wolf Mountain, Snowbasin, Beaver Mountain, Brighton, Sundance, and Solitude have donated a limited number of tickets for sale at discounted prices.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides flight plan.

Dawn Patrol Forecast Hotline, updated by 05:30:888-999-4019 option 8.

Daily observations are frequently posted by 10 pm each evening.

Free UAC iPhone app from Canyon Sports.

Subscribe to the daily avalanche advisory e-mail click HERE.

UDOT canyon closures UDOT at (801) 975-4838

We appreciate all your avalanche and snow observations. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, or email to uac@utahavalanchecenter.org

Donate to your favorite non-profit – The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center. The UAC depends on contributions from users like you to support our work.

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.

Evelyn will update this forecast on Saturday morning. Thanks for calling.