25th Annual Black Diamond Fall Fundraising Party
Thursday, September 13; 6:00-10:00 PM; Black Diamond Parking Lot
25th Annual Black Diamond Fall Fundraising Party
Thursday, September 13; 6:00-10:00 PM; Black Diamond Parking Lot
Advisory: Provo Area Mountains | Issued by Evelyn Lees for Tuesday - December 27, 2016 - 7:04am |
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special announcement Once again this winter, our partners at the Wasatch Mountain Club are matching WMC member donations to the Utah Avalanche Center. If you are a WMC member and value avalanche forecasting and education, please send a check made out to the Utah Avalanche Center to the WMC at 1390 South 1100 East #103, Salt Lake City, UT 84105 |
current conditions Skies are clear and temperatures have warmed to near 20 at 10,000’, with single digits remaining in the canyon bottoms where the cold air is pooled. Unfortunately, the southwesterly winds are increasing. Speeds at the mid elevation stations are reasonable – 10 mph averages, gusting to 15. But the high peaks are averaging 25 to 30 mph, with gusts to 40. |
recent activity Mostly stable snow was found in the backcountry yesterday, with many traveling in steep terrain and no reports of significant avalanches. Small sluffs and wind slabs were triggered on most aspects, including southeasterly facing slopes. Avalanche work at the resorts triggered a few larger soft slabs and isolated wind slabs. |
type | aspect/elevation | characteristics |
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LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
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description
The southwesterly winds are increasing at the high elevations and expected to average 30 to 40 mph, with gusts to 60, by noon. There is abundant powder snow available for transport, so sensitive wind drifts will build and become easy to trigger. A laminar flow may keep most of the damaging wind transport to upper elevations, with mid elevation terrain remaining more wind-sheltered. Wind can change the landscape and increase the avalanche danger faster than any other weather factor, so be alert to the changing conditions and reevaluate often. Natural avalanches may become possible today, so be aware of what’s above you even when you are in wind-sheltered terrain. Plumes off the peaks, cracking of denser snow or your tracks filling in are signs of wind drifting Yesterday's small wind drifts will be harder, deeper and wider at the upper elevations today. Eric Trenbeath photo.
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type | aspect/elevation | characteristics |
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LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
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description
The combination of recent snow and additional loading from today’s wind, the facets near the ground on upper elevation slopes facing northwest through easterly remain suspect. In isolated places a person or a smaller new snow avalanche could trigger a slide to the ground. On most slopes, the mid and upper snow pack weaknesses are stabilizing. |
type | aspect/elevation | characteristics |
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LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
|
description
Out of the wind-affected terrain, smaller soft wind drifts, dry sluffs and wet loose sluffs could be triggered on steep slopes. Warm temperatures and sun could dampen the snow on steep, sunny slopes, and it may become possible to trigger wet loose sluffs. |
weather An approaching weather system will graze northern Utah, bringing increasing clouds and wind through tonight, but very little snow. The southwesterly winds will ramp up by noon today along the higher ridgelines – 30 to 40 mph averages, with gusts to 60. Speeds at mid elevations could average 20 mph. 8000’ temperatures will warm to near 30. A few inches of snow are possible tonight, mostly north of I-80. High pressure will rebuild tomorrow, and the next chance for snow in northern Utah looks to be around Sunday. |
general announcements
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