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
Tuesday,
April 10, 2007 5:00 pm
Good evening, this is Drew Hardesty with
the
We are issuing advisories on an intermittent basis for
the remainder of April.
Current Conditions:
Reminds me of winter out there. A cold front with lingering instability Monday
night into Tuesday produced 6-9” of high density snow and graupel in the upper
Cottonwoods with a few inches reported north and south of the central
Wasatch. The west to northwesterly winds
played something of a spoiler, blowing 20-25mph with the highest ridgelines
humming along at a sustained 45-50mph, with gusts to 70. Temps are in the low teens.
It’s no dust on crust, folks. The graupel and high density snow made for
excellent riding conditions with a few face shots thrown in here and there,
though many of the upper elevation west and north facing starting zones are
scoured.
Avalanche Discussion:
Simple ski pole tests allow penetration through an un”seized-up”
wet snow structure, but it’s just a footnote to the cold snow avalanche issues
on top. The stronger winds Tuesday whipped
the snow into uneven drifts at the high and mid-elevations, with pillows more
commonly found on the south through east lee terrain. Forcing and channeling loaded other encatchment areas across the undulating terrain, so pillows
will be found in more than just the usual starting zones. While I wasn’t able to trigger any avalanches
today, snow column isolation tests in drifts up to 18” produced a couple of
easier shears in the new snow on graupel and another wind-driven
interface.
If you’re heading out
on Wednesday, look for a few clues from the snow. Cracking in the snow will provide idea, and
avoid the rounded and scalloped drifts in steep terrain. Test slopes will give some good info, but it
seemed like more of a complex patchwork of drifting rather the usual
predictable patterns. Slope cuts will be
an effective tool in and below the usual starting zones. Tulips and daffodils are blooming in the
valley, but it’s now possible to trigger drifts up to 18” deep in steep terrain
that received the most snow and wind.
Mountain Weather:
Wednesday provides a
quick breather ahead of the next storm Wednesday night into Thursday. It looks like a bit more of the energy will
dive south, but the northern Wasatch could pick up 3-5”” by Friday. Another storm impacts the area Sunday into
Monday. Temps remain in the low teens Tuesday
night into Wednesday. The northwesterly
winds will blow 25-30mph, before dropping off to light and variable under
Wednesday’s weak ridge.
Announcements:
UDOT highway avalanche
control work info can be found HERE
or by calling (801)
975-4838.
Our
statewide tollfree line is 1-888-999-4019 (early morning, option 8).
For our classic text
advisory click HERE.
We appreciate all the great
snowpack and avalanche observations we’ve been getting, so keep leaving us
messages 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.
We will update this advisory on an intermittent basis for the rest of
April and thanks for calling.