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
“keeping
you on top”
AVALANCHE ADVISORY
Saturday,
February 03, 2007 7:30 am
Good morning, this is Evelyn Lees with
the
We’d like to give a
big thanks to Jim Shea and the Canyons for their awesome support at last
night’s fund raiser.
Current Conditions:
The Thursday storm
produced a welcome 5 to 7” of fresh snow, and a combination of wind and
particle size made the snow pleasantly thick and creamy despite its low
density. Temperatures are in the single
digits along the ridgelines this morning, and in the teens at mid
elevations. The winds have kicked it up
a notch since yesterday, and are blowing steadily from a northwesterly
direction in the 15 to 25 mph range, with gusts in the 40’s. Across the highest peaks, they’re blasting
with 40 to 55 mph averages and gusts in the 60’s, 70‘s and 80’s. Riding conditions are much improved,
especially out of the wind and on slopes with a smoother old surface, but don’t
let the fresh, smooth surface trick you.
The same rocks, stumps and old tracks you’ve been dodging the past few
weeks are still lurking just below the surface.
Snowpack and Avalanche Conditions:
There was a variety of
avalanche activity yesterday, all relating to fresh wind drifts. There were a few small naturals and cornice
cutting and slope
cuts produced good results. The slides were shallow, pockety wind drifts,
8-15" deep and 20' - 60' wide. A
few broke back up onto the ridgelines further than expected, and one was triggered
remotely, mid slope. There was one report of a sluff gouging into old
facets, on a wind sheltered slope.
Today, I expect more
of the same activity. With the winds
blowing at a good speed for drifting snow all night, the wind
drifts will stay active and easily triggered today. The drifts will be a
bit deeper, wider, denser, and more widespread today. They are definitely big enough to tug on you,
and even catch you and take you for a ride in steep terrain. While you can find these drifts on a variety
of aspects and mid slope, they will be most widespread on slopes having an
easterly component and along the ridgelines.
With the continued winds, a few more small,
spontaneous soft slabs may run, so avoid travel directly below steep, wind
loaded slopes. Warming and direct sun
may increase the sensitivity of the new snow on steep sunny slopes this
afternoon that can be handled with careful slope cuts out of wind drifted
areas.
Bottom Line for the
Today, the avalanche
danger is MODERATE on any slope steeper than about 35
degrees with recent drifts of wind blown snow.
These drifts may be deeper, denser and more widespread than yesterday,
so approach any steep slope with caution, being very careful to identify and
avoid drifts. On non-wind affected
terrain and on slopes less steep than about 35 degrees, the avalanche danger is
generally LOW, but watch for sluffing of the new snow on
sunny slopes as the day heats up.
Mountain Weather:
High pressure is
settling in for the weekend, bringing clear skies and rapidly warming
temperatures. Highs today will reach the low 30’s at 8,000’ and upper 20’s at
10,000’. The northwesterly winds will
stay obnoxiously strong along the highest peaks, continuing with their 40 to 55
mph averages with gusts to 80. Wind
speeds will be significantly lower along most of the ridges, in the 15 to 25
mph range, with gusts in the 30’s.
Sunday’s weather will be clear and warm, with light winds.
Announcements:
Yesterday, the Wasatch Powderbird Guides did not fly, and they probably
won’t get out today due to wind, but if they do they’ll be in
On February 8th at 7:30, there will be a Teton Skiing
documentary at Brewvies. Details are
below, or click here
for more information.
Sad news: Thursday, Ed LaChapelle,
considered the grandfather of American avalanche research, died while attending
the memorial service of his ex-wife and good friend, Delores LaChapelle in
http://www.newwest.net/index.php/city/article/avalanche_pioneer_ed_lachapelle_dies/C101/L101/
Listen to the
advisory. Try our new streaming audio or
podcasts
UDOT highway avalanche
control work information can be found HERE or by calling (801) 975-4838.
Our new, state wide tollfree hotline is 1-888-999-4019.
(For early morning detailed avalanche activity report hit option 8)
For a list of avalanche
classes, click HERE
For our classic text advisory click HERE.
To sign up for automated e-mails of our graphical advisory click HERE
We appreciate any snowpack and
avalanche observations you have, so please leave us a message at (801) 524-5304
or 1-800-662-4140, or email us at [email protected].
(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 on Sunday morning, and
thanks for calling.