Avalanche Advisory
| Advisory: Provo Area Mountains | Issued by Evelyn Lees for February 13, 2013 - 6:36am |
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Above 9,500 ft.
8,000-9,500 ft.
Below 8,000 ft.
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bottom line The avalanche danger is MODERATE for triggering a wind drift or wind slab, which are most widespread along the higher ridgelines, on south through east through northeast facing slopes. The avalanche danger is also MODERATE for triggering loose snow sluffs, having a cornice break off and for the isolated chance of triggering a 1 to 3 foot deep slab avalanche on a northerly facing slope.
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special announcement Drew will be leading the fireside chat at the Black Diamond retail store tomorrow night , Thursday the 14th, at 730 pm, covering current thoughts on the snowpack and various other topics. |
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current conditions Under cloudy skies this morning’s temperatures are a bit warmer – mostly in the teens. The northwesterly winds have calmed down temporarily, and all but a few stations are averaging less than 10 mph this morning. Somewhere around midnight, a trace to an inch of snow fell, adding to the fluff on the shady slopes. |
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recent activity There were a couple of human triggered wind slabs yesterday on the Little Superior/Superior ridge line, with everyone avoiding taking a ride. The largest was 1-2 feet deep and 50’ wide, running over 300’. There was also an out of bounds skier triggered wind slab in Limelight on the Park City side. The resorts reported releasing both sluffs and soft winds slabs with ski cuts, and the new cornices were sensitive. |
Avalanche Problem 1over the next 24 hours
| type | aspect/elevation | characteristics |
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Above 9,500 ft.
8,000-9,500 ft.
Below 8,000 ft.
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description
The winds are forecast to increase again today – from a slightly more westerly direction, so there will be a slightly different loading pattern. Avoid all wind drifts on steep slopes - yesterday’s slightly harder and more stubborn drifts and today’s new softer wind drifts. While most widespread along the ridges, drifts can also be found off the ridgelines, cross loaded around sub ridges, gully walls and mid slope break overs. They are large enough to catch and carry an unaware person. Think about where you could be carried, avoiding travel in wind drifted terrain above unforgiving features such as gullies, cliffs or trees. Cornices go hand in hand with wind, and are sensitive, tending to break back further than expected.
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