In partnership with: Utah Division of State
Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department
of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and
AVALANCHE ADVISORY
Thursday,
December 29, 2005 7:30am
Good morning, this is Evelyn Lees with
the
Check out our new graphical advisory format. You can update your bookmarks to this link:
http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/newadvisory/advisory.php
Current Conditions:
Soggy conditions ruled the range yesterday, with warm temperatures and
light rain to near 10,000 late afternoon.
The cold air finally arrived around 11 pm, dropping snow levels to below
6,500. Most areas are reporting
moderate snow this morning containing lots of graupel, or pellet snow, and snow
totals are in the 2 to 6 range. The winds
have been strong throughout the night, and are currently from the northwest,
averaging 15 to 25 mph with gusts into the 40s, both along the ridgelines and
well down into the valley bottoms. The
combination of winds and snow are creating blizzard-like conditions at some
locations this morning. The
Turning and riding conditions are rapidly improving this morning, as the
layer of dense snow continues to build. Your
best bet will be a favorite wind sheltered slope, above about 8,500, facing the
north half of the compass.
Avalanche Conditions:
Yesterday, the avalanche news was mostly of damp activity in the form of
roller balls and loose sluffs, with one 50 wide new snow slide triggered with a
cornice drop, in east facing Alexander. In
the
Today, wind drifts of new snow will be the main avalanche concern. Strong winds at both mid and high elevations
are blowing and drifting the snow, and these new wind drifts will be easy for a
person to trigger on a steep slope. Expect
drifts and slabs of snow along ridges, but also mid slope, well off the
ridgelines, around terrain features, below cliff bands and at steep break overs. The drifts will be most sensitive this
morning, during the period of heaviest precipitation, and should start to stabilize
this afternoon once the snow and winds taper off. On lower angle slopes and out of the wind, the
new snow should bond well to the old, warm snow surface.
The snow at the lower elevations may take some time to cool off and
freeze, so watch out for wet, sloppy snow low down, and avoid terrain traps
such as gullies.
Bottom Line:
The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE
on steep, wind drifted slopes this morning, above about 8,000. Human triggered slides are probable, and a
few natural avalanches possible. Other
steep slopes have a MODERATE danger. On wind sheltered slopes, less steep than
about 35 degrees, the avalanche danger is generally LOW.
Mountain Weather:
The unstable northwest flow behind the exiting trough should keep light
to moderate snow falling through about noon.
2 to 6 additional snow is possible.
The strong, northwesterly winds should start to decrease by noon. Temperatures are on a downward trend today,
and will drop into the mid teens at 10,000 and remain in the low 20s at 8,000. A brief break in the weather is in store for
tonight through Friday morning before the next system impacts the area,
bringing snow on a southwest to westerly flow.
Regional
Snow Profile (this profile can also be
found daily off our home page under avalanche products)
Click here for Seasonal Weather History Charts.
Yesterday,
Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in
We
appreciate any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions you observe. Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email [email protected] or fax 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.
To
have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. (You must re-sign up this season even if you
were on the list last season.)
UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work
hotline for Little Cottonwood road, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.
Brett Kobernik will update this advisory by 7:30 Friday morning. Thanks for calling.