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
Friday,
March 03, 2006 7:30am
Good morning, this is Brett Kobernik with
the
Current Conditions:
The winds picked up on Thursday blowing
the newest snow into drifts and crusts (PHOTOS). Southwest winds blew in the 20 to 30 mph
range along the ridgetops as well as getting into some of the lower portions of
the drainages. Winds are now in the 15
to 20 mph range with gusts to around 30.
Temperatures didn’t get warm enough yesterday to produce any significant
avalanche activity but were quite warm getting up around freezing at 10,000’
and staying above freezing overnight below about 8000’. Most locations are in the upper 20s to low
30s this morning.
Recent Avalanche Activity & Snowpack Discussion:
The only significant avalanche activity
from Thursday was a large cornice fall triggered from some skiers in the
Wolverine Cirque. It reportedly snapped
a few small trees in its way down the slope but did not produce any avalanching
once it impacted the lower portion of the slope. I have noticed many cornices becoming quite
large with a few breaking off naturally over the last week. Approach these with caution.
Avalanche Problem #1 - Wind Slabs
Today, we again need to watch for wind
slabs, both old and new. It would not be
surprising to find a drift that could avalanche today. Some locations had a southeasterly component
to the wind so you may find fresh drifts on some northwest facing slopes which
may not usually have drifts form on them.
Winds did transport snow down lower in the drainages but the main place
you will find any avalanching will be in higher terrain due to more snow
available for transport. Northeast
through northwest facing slopes are the most suspect but remember that
mountainous terrain can channel winds into many directions so pay attention to
any drifting on all aspects. Wind crusts
and the rain crusts vary widely from place to place so continue to dig quick
hand pits and use your ski poles to help you inventory variations in the snow.
Avalanche Problem #2 – Wet Avalanches
The winds will probably keep temperatures in check on southerly slopes at the
higher elevations but with a clear sky for most of the day today, watch for the
snow to become damp on these slopes.
More importantly, with warmer temperatures over the last 24 hrs at the
lower elevations, things may loosen up more rapidly in lower terrain. If you find yourself punching through the
entire snowpack into damp snow, be sure to avoid any steep slopes and terrain
traps.
Bottom Line:
The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes
steeper then 35 degrees with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. At lower elevations out of the wind the
avalanche danger will start out LOW but may increase to MODERATE if temperatures warm and loosen the snow
enough.
Mountain Weather:
We’ll see
mostly clear skies for most of the day today with windy conditions from the
southwest picking up as the day goes on.
Ridgetop temperatures will be in the upper 20s and gradually cool off
this afternoon. A storm will affect the
mountains tonight into Saturday with the chance of 3 to 7 inches of snow. Winds speeds will remain in the 20 to 30 mph
range from the southwest for most of this event. Temperatures cool into the teens by Saturday
morning with clearing, then warming temperatures on Sunday.
Announcements:
Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon
information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of
avalanche beacons. http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/index.htm
Click here to check out our new online avalanche
encyclopedia.
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.
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 were in White Pine,
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.
Evelyn Lees will
update this advisory by 7:30 Saturday morning.
Thanks for calling.