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,
January 05, 2006 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:
High pressure is in command this morning, and under clear skies
temperatures have warmed to near 20 degrees at many ridgeline locations. Winds are steadily decreasing, and generally
less than 15 mph from a northwesterly direction. Turning and riding conditions are very good
on all aspects this morning in creamy powder, with easy trail breaking. As the day progresses, the sun and warm
temperatures will dampen the snow on the steep sunny slopes.
Avalanche Conditions:
Explosive control work yesterday pulled out yet another big one on the
It is also still possible to trigger a shallower, new snow slide,
especially in wind drifted areas. An
intentional cornice drop in Alexander yesterday triggered a 100’ wide by 18”
deep slide. There is the scary potential
for the weight of one of these smaller new snow slides to step down and trigger
a deeper slide.
I also expect some wet snow activity today on steep sunny slopes due to
the rapidly warming temperatures and direct sun. As the snow heats up, stay off of and out
from under steep sunny slopes, especially avoiding terrain traps such as
gullies.
Bottom Line:
The avalanche danger is MODERATE today on
slopes steeper than 35 degrees, above about 9,000’. There are isolated places where a person
could trigger a deep, dangerous slide, on west through north through east
facing slopes. Avoid traditionally
shallow snow pack areas, especially those that were heavily wind loaded during
the last storm. The avalanche danger
will rise to MODERATE on steep sunny slopes with day
time heating. The danger is generally LOW below about 9,000’ (8,500’ in the
Mountain Weather:
High pressure will dominate the weather through Friday. This will bring clear skies and a strong
warming trend today, with 10,000’ temperatures climbing into the mid 30’s, and
8,000’ temperatures into the mid 40’s.
The northwesterly winds will remain generally less than 15 mph. It will be a copy cat day tomorrow, but with
temperatures another 5 degrees warmer.
The ridge will give way for the weekend, with the best chance for snow
Sunday into Sunday night.
Click HERE for
other weather links
Preliminary accident report from the weekend avalanche accident on
Timpanogos can be found here.
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 were grounded due to bad weather. Today, they will be in
Please
report 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.
I will update
this advisory by 7:30 Friday morning. Thanks for calling.