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
Monday,
February 27, 2006 7:30am
Good morning, this is Drew Hardesty with
the
There are several free
automated avalanche beacon practice areas open, including one at Canyons, one
on the by-pass road near Snowbird and one in the northwest corner of the lower
lot at Solitude. They are really easy to
use, and well worth stopping for a quick practice session.
Current Conditions:
The southwesterly winds ramped up
overnight averaging 25-35mph with gusts into the 60’s. They’ve calmed down enough this morning, but only
to catch its breath before they roar back late afternoon with speeds into the
40’s. Overnight lows were in the upper
twenties to low thirties, with a poor if any refreeze at the mid and low
elevations. These are the riding conditions
that only the great Russian novelists could love.
Avalanche Conditions:
Yesterday’s stronger southerly winds were
responsible for one skier triggered release
in mid-White Pine canyon on a steep northeast facing rollover down off the
ridgeline. It was about 6-10” deep and up
to 75’ wide. Last night’s stronger winds
will produce more of the same, drifting whatever loose snow it can scrape into pockety
soft and hard slabs. Mid-elevations
suffered too, so wind damage and drifting may provide the unsuspecting traveler
something to trigger or trip over. Some
may be stubborn and difficult to trigger, with some sitting on the weak surface
snow formed over the past week, resulting in less-than-manageable avalanche conditions.
The second problem for today stems from
the poor overnight refreeze. Mitigating
factors are the strong convective winds and long wave radiational cooling, but
expect earlier and more intense melting with today’s heat and sun. Pinwheels and rollerballs will be clues you’ve
outstayed your welcome – take a hint and move to a different aspect or head to the
car. Glide avalanches in upper Broad’s, Stairs and Mill B may be possible
today.
The old snow surface will be, as always,
critical in assessing the new avalanche problems with the mid-week storm. Let’s hope that this
and this,
will have decayed or been destroyed from the warm temps and strong winds.
Bottom Line:
Today, the avalanche danger is MODERATE on any slope
steeper than 35 degrees with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. It’s
probably not the day to hit your favorite Chuting Gallery line. The avalanche
danger of wet avalanches will increase to MODERATE on and below
steep, sun exposed slopes with daytime heating.
Mountain Weather:
Still warm and windy. 8000’ highs will peak into
the low 50’s while 10,000’ temps reach 40 degrees. Winds will be southwesterly blowing 20mph
before ramping up this afternoon into the 40mph range. Stronger winds are forecasted for tonight and
tomorrow ahead of Tuesday night’s storm.
We’re looking at 6-10” in favored locations followed by another storm
for the weekend.
Announcements:
Click here to check out our new online avalanche
encyclopedia.
Early birds and snow
geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.
Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.
To
have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE.
UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline
for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and
The
Wasatch Powderbird Guides didn’t get out yesterday, and if they fly today will
be in American Fork, the Sessions, and Cascade.
For more info, call 742-2800.
Please
report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions. 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.
Brett Kobernik will update this advisory by 7:30 Tuesday morning. Thanks for calling.