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,
March 23, 2006 7:30 am
Good morning, this is Brett Kobernik with
the
Current Conditions:
Warm temperatures on Wednesday
made the snow become damp on all aspects up to around 9,000’ or better. Temperatures overnight dropped back well
below freezing and are in the low teens to low 20s. Ridgetop wind speeds were fairly slow from
the west northwest on Wednesday but still transported some snow along the upper
elevation ridges. Currently, winds are
from the northwest at less then 10 mph with gusts only to 15 mph at 11,000 feet.
Recent Avalanche Activity & Snowpack Discussion:
Despite fairly warm
temperatures and damp snow on Wednesday, wet avalanche activity was
minimal. (PHOTO) More significant were a number of human
triggered soft slab avalanches that happened along the upper ridgelines. Experienced people recognized suspect areas
and were able to purposely release these slabs with slope cuts. People less experienced could easily have been
caught off guard. These slides were 12
to 18 inches deep, 40 to 50 feet wide and running 400 to 500 feet
vertical. The largest was wider then 50
feet and described as a larger avalanche that you wouldn’t want to get caught
in. At least one skier did go for a ride
when he triggered the remaining snow above a previously ski cut avalanche.
For today the main concern
will be wet activity as temperatures warm during the day. With cold overnight temperatures this danger
is low this morning but will start to become active late morning into the
afternoon. Stay clear of steep slopes
and runout zones when you find yourself in damp, mucky “frosting like” snow. Stay out of lower elevation terrain traps as
the day goes on.
Bottom Line:
The avalanche danger is MODERATE today. This
includes wet activity on all aspects at lower elevations as well as southeast
through west facing aspects at higher elevations. This also includes pockets along the ridges
where you might find a lingering cold snow slab avalanche waiting to be
triggered on northerly aspects.
Mountain Weather:
Upper elevation moisture will produce high clouds today. 10,000 foot temperatures will warm a bit more
then yesterday and be in the upper 20s to near 30 and will reach around 40 degrees
at 8,000 feet. Ridgetop winds will be
from the northwest in the 5 to 10 mph range.
High pressure with warmer temperatures will continue Friday and Saturday
with a storm system affecting the area late Saturday to early Sunday which
currently looks like it could produce 4 to 8 inches of snow.
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 flew in
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 Thursday morning. Thanks for calling.