Wasatch
Cache National Forest
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Avalanche advisory
saturDay,
MARCH 9, 2002 7:30 AM
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Good morning, this is Evelyn
Lees with the
Don’t
miss the Banff Mountain Film Festival at the U of U’s Kingsbury Hall on March
12 and 13, at
Current Conditions:
Yesterday’s greatly
appreciated storm has moved east of
This morning, under clear
skies, temperatures are near zero. The
winds are from the west, averaging 25 to 35 mph in the more exposed locations,
and nearer to 15 along the less exposed ridge lines.
Avalanche Conditions:
Visibility
was poor most of yesterday, limiting backcountry observations. However, within the resorts the fresh wind
drifts were sensitive, and widespread new snow avalanches were reported from
control work in wind loaded areas.
Today, while these new wind drifts will be more stubborn, continue to
avoid steep slopes that were wind loaded during the storm. Cornices could also be sensitive, breaking
back further than expected.
Also
of concern today will be the more deeply buried weak layers. During the past 2 months, many weak faceted
layers developed with in the snowpack, often sandwiched between crusts. Most likely this storm did not add enough
weight to cause widespread avalanching on these deeper weak layers. This means many steep slopes are hanging in
balance, just waiting for a trigger. I
would consider almost any steep slope suspect, especially where wind loaded or
in thinner snow pack areas. The most
likely place to trigger one of these deeper slides would be on slopes similar
to where the steady numbers of avalanches were triggered over the past
weeks. This is on a northwest through
northeast through southeast facing slope, above about 9,000’. The likelihood increases with elevation and
wind loading. Areas with weak underlying
snow are most wide spread in the
With
abundant sunshine and dramatic warming today, sunny slopes will heat up
rapidly, triggering wet sluffs and slides.
So as sunny slopes heat up, stay off of and out from underneath them.
While
the focus will be on powder today, take a deep breath and keep thinking
avalanches if you get into steep terrain.
Go one at a time on steep slopes and watch out for the position of other
backcountry parties.
Bottom Line:
The danger of human triggered avalanches is CONSIDERABLE
today on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees, especially where wind drifted
and in thinner snow pack areas. Human
triggered avalanches are likely.
Avalanches in the new snow may break into deeper layers, creating large
and very dangerous slides. With day time
heating, the danger of wet slides will rise to MODERATE
on and below steep sunny slopes.
(Provo Area
Mountains and Western Uinta Mountains)
These
areas have had a thin snowpack most of the winter and sugary weak snow is more
common than in the Cottonwood Canyons.
The danger of human triggered avalanches is more widespread in the Provo
and Western Uinta Mountains, especially where wind drifted.
Elevation
dependent, significantly more snow as increase in elevation.
(Ogden Area Mountains)
Same as above.
Mountain Weather:
An upper level ridge will
slide across
General Information:
The
Wasatch Powderbird Guides will be flying one ship in American Fork and the
other in
To
report backcountry snow and avalanche conditions, especially if you observe or
trigger an avalanche, you can leave a message at (801) 524-5304 or
1-800-662-4140. Or you can e-mail an
observation to uacobs@avalanche .org, or you can fax
an observation to 801-524-6301.
For
more detailed mountain weather and avalanche information, your can call
801-364-1591, which we’ll try to have updated by around
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.
Bruce
Tremper will update this advisory by
Thanks for calling!
________________________________________________________________________
For
more detailed weather information go to our Mountain Weather Advisory
National
Weather Service - Salt Lake City - Snow.
For an explanation of
avalanche danger ratings: