Wasatch Cache National Forest

In partnership with: The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Forecast Center, Utah Department of Public Safety Division of Comprehensive Emergency Management, Salt Lake County, and Utah State Parks

The Utah Avalanche Center Home page is: http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/

Avalanche advisory

Saturday, November 23, 2002

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Good morning, this is Evelyn Lees with the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center with your backcountry avalanche and mountain weather advisory. Today is Saturday, November 23, 2002, and it’s 7:30 am.

Current Conditions:

We’ll have to endure spring-like conditions for one more morning before they makes a welcome exit as a weak storm moves into northern Utah. Mountain temperatures are in the low to mid 30’s this morning, with no refreeze even at 10,000’. Ridge top winds are 15 to 20 mph from the southwest.

If you’re searching for turns, a few patches of decent recrystalized powder do exist on slopes sheltered from both wind and sun. Elsewhere, widespread sun and wind crusts create frustrating conditions. The shallow snow depths are even more of a problem, with the exposed rocks and logs creating a hazard. Snowmobiling is limited to mid and upper elevation roads, trails and grassy slopes.

Avalanche Conditions:

Direct sun and warm temperatures will once again heat up the snow today. Wet sluffs will be possible on steep southerly facing slopes, mostly initiating near rock bands that warm from the sun. If high, thin clouds come in this afternoon, wet snow sluffs may also occur on the steep shady slopes as they heat up. So when the snow starts to get wet and sloppy later this morning, get off of and out from under steep slopes.

There is also a slight chance of triggering a deeper hard slab avalanche on the old October depth hoar or an old wind drift. Please continue to use caution on steep, mid and upper elevation shady slopes.

Bottom Line (SLC and Provo Area Mountains):

The avalanche danger is generally LOW this morning but may rise to MODERATE on steep slopes of all aspects as temperatures increase. Pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger remain above about 9,000 feet, on very steep northeast, north and northwest facing slopes.

Ogden Area Mountains:

The avalanche danger is generally LOW this morning but may rise to MODERATE on steep slopes of all aspects as temperatures increase.

Mountain Weather:

A weak low pressure and associated cold front will move across northern Utah late this afternoon and tonight. Ahead of the storm, spring-like conditions will persist this morning, with sunny skies and temperatures warming into the mid 40’s. The southwesterly winds will average 15 to 25 mph along the ridges. Increasing clouds this afternoon, with a few late afternoon snow showers possible. Tonight, expect moderate northwest winds with a few inches of new snow, and lows near 20. A slightly stronger cold front is expected Sunday night, with snow showers lingering into Monday morning.

General Information:

For a complete list of avalanche talks and multi-day classes, visit www.avalanche.org and click on Salt Lake and then Education.

To report backcountry snow and avalanche conditions, especially if you observe or trigger an avalanche, call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, or email to [email protected] or fax to 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.

Ethan Greene will update this advisory by 7:30 on Sunday morning.

Thanks for calling!

________________________________________________________________________

National Weather Service - Salt Lake City - Snow.

For an explanation of avalanche danger ratings:

http://www.avalanche.org/usdanger.htm