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
Sunday,
March 26, 2006 7:30 am
Good morning, this is Brett Kobernik with
the
Current Conditions:
Winds continue to blow this
morning but have switched from the southwest to the northwest still averaging
20 to 25 along the ridges with gusts into the 60s at the highest
locations. The mountains of northern
Recent Avalanche Activity & Snowpack Discussion:
Yesterday’s wet snow surface
should be frozen up pretty good underneath the new snow. The main concern for today will be fresh wind
drifts on top of the old snow surface with the wild card being the strong
winds. Moderate wind speeds from a
constant direction almost guarantees a predictable wind slab formation however
strong wind speeds from varying directions is much harder to predict which is
what we are dealing with today. The fact
is we’ve had new snow accompanied by winds so you should expect any wind
affected area to crack out until things are proven otherwise. Pillowy looking drifts should be
obvious. Listen for hollow sounds under
foot while traveling. If you come across
areas that are wind scoured down to the old crust, consider where the new snow
has been blown to. With strong winds
many of these new drifts could be quite stout allowing you to stay on top of
them but be cautious of these as they may release once you are out on to the
middle of them.
Also, the new snow will be
sensitive to warming especially the first time or two it becomes damp so as
soon as you notice a change in the snow, start thinking wet avalanche activity
and adjust your actions accordingly.
Bottom Line:
Most areas have a MODERATE danger today however, with the windy wild card I do need
to mention that there are pockets that have a CONSIDERABLE danger. Some of the
fresh drifts have the potential to be large which ups the consequences if you
were to trigger one. The strong winds
will make the distribution spotty with most likely places to trigger these on northeast
through southeast facing slopes and on the east side of terrain features but
watch for wind affected snow on other aspects as well. There will also be a MODERATE danger of wet avalanche activity at lower elevations and
high elevation southeast through west facing aspects as temperatures warm
today.
Mountain Weather:
Chances for snow will continue to decrease this morning. Strong west winds will continue for a few
hours then start to taper off toward noon.
Skies will be partly cloudy. Ridgetop
temperatures will get into the mid 20s.
Monday will be partly cloudy with ridgetop high temperatures into the
30s. Another storm will affect the area Tuesday
into Wednesday that looks like it will produce another 6 to 12 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 did not fly on Saturday and today weather
permitting will be in A.F., Cascade with home runs
through White Pine. 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.
Drew Hardesty will update this
advisory by 7:30 Monday morning. Thanks for calling.