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
Tuesday,
March 21, 2006 7:30 am
Good morning, this is Brett Kobernik with
the
Current Conditions:
Ridgetop temperatures neared
freezing on Monday turning the snow damp on all aspects below about 10,000
feet. Ridgetop winds were from the
southwest in the 10 to 15 mph range with a few higher gusts. This morning a period of snowfall laid down
another layer of light density snow which produced about 6 to 10 inches of snow
in most locations. Snow was still
falling at the time of this publication but should taper off this morning.
Recent Avalanche Activity & Snowpack Discussion:
A few people still were able
to find a few pockets that pulled out with slope cuts on Monday that produced
some slab avalanches. These were all within
the snow from the last storm and seem more prevalent around the Timpanogos
terrain where a weakness formed early in the last storm. The largest was 18 inches deep and around 150
feet wide. (PHOTOS
& INFO) The snow that fell this morning came in a very short period of
time and I would expect to see evidence of natural loose snow avalanche
activity once people get out this morning.
The snow should already have stabilized somewhat to the point where
natural activity is over. People out
recreating will still be able to initiate activity mostly in the form of
sluffing. Most of the instabilities from
the last storm should have settled out but lingering pockets may be lurking in
the steep upper elevation north facing terrain where you may find some slab
avalanche activity. Another period of
snow is expected this afternoon and if we see a period of high precipitation
intensity the danger will rapidly rise.
During these periods the snow can quickly become unstable and produce spontaneous
natural avalanching.
Bottom Line:
The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes steeper then 35 degrees in areas that received the
most snow and along the upper ridgelines where any wind drifting may have occurred. Watch for periods of rapid snowfall
accumulation this afternoon and make sure you are traveling along ridges and
out from under steep avalanche paths and gullies during these periods if they
happen. The new snow will be sensitive
to any warming so pay attention to temperatures today as well.
Mountain Weather:
Snowfall from this morning should taper off for a while before another
wave of snow affects us this afternoon.
4 to 6 inches more is expected with locally heavier amounts possible. Ridgetop temperatures will be in the upper
teens to low 20s and ridgetop winds will be from the southwest in the 10 to 20
mph range decreasing as the day goes on.
High pressure sets in for the next few days bringing warmer
temperatures.
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
Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.
Click here to check out our new online avalanche
encyclopedia.
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 can fly
today will be in A.F.,White
Pine, Silver, Days,
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 Tuesday morning. Thanks for calling.