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,
January 15, 2008 7:30 am
Good morning, this is Brett Kobernik with
the
Current Conditions:
Yesterday temperatures
warmed into the low to mid 30s at the 8 to 9000 foot range and are now in the
20s at most locations. Winds coming
from the west southwest have been increasing in speed overnight and are in the 10
to 20 mph range gusting into the 40s and 50s at the higher locations.
Avalanche Discussion:
There was some
avalanche activity on Monday in the form of both wet and dry snow slides. One skier took a short ride when a recent
wind drift released on the south face of Gobblers Knob. (PHOTO) He was able to get out of it within 40
feet. It ran 400 feet vertical. His partner then provoked another suspect
slab with instant gratification as it released as well. He was pushed a short distance. My party also found some sensitive pockets
along the upper ridges in the southern Wasatch and one knocked me over as I purposely
goaded it. (PHOTOS
& OBS) There was also natural
wet activity on aspects with any hint of southerly exposure. A few piled up snow on the Big Cottonwood
highway and the largest seemed to be on the west facing aspect of Timpanogos
which ran around 1000 feet vertical.
Today we will want to
watch for recent and fresh drifts of wind blown snow. These will be pockety in nature and mostly
along the upper ridgelines and mainly on east through south facing slopes. Shooting cracks are great indicators of these
slabs. The pockets should be manageable
as long as you recognize them before getting onto the middle of them. Slope cuts are an effective tool with these. Consequences are greater if you are in
exposed terrain above rocks or trees.
Bottom Line for the
Along the
higher ridges there will be a MODERATE
danger of triggering a recent or fresh drift of wind blown snow. These will be mainly on slopes facing east
through south with slope angles of 35 degrees or greater. The danger is more pockety
on other aspects but watch for cross loaded terrain features.
Mountain Weather:
A cold front will move
through this morning bringing snow showers and gusty northwest winds. Chances for snow flurries will remain through
the day with 2 to 5 inches possible. Temperatures
will be in the upper teens to low 20s.
We’ll remain in a cool northerly flow over the next few days with
chances for snow flurries. The next
decent system looks like it may happen late in the weekend.
Announcements
The UAC depends on contributions from users like you to support our work.
To find out more about how you can support our efforts to continue providing
the avalanche forecasting and education that you expect please visit our Friends page.
The Wasatch Powderbird Guides
were in American Fork, the Sessions and
The free avalanche beacon parks are up and running at Solitude, Snowbird and
Canyons. They’re great places to
practice by yourself or with friends.
If you want to get this avalanche advisory e-mailed to you daily click HERE.
UDOT highway avalanche control work info can be found
by calling (801) 975-4838.
Our statewide tollfree line is 1-888-999-4019 (early morning, option 8).
If you’re getting out and see anything we should know about please let us
know. You can leave 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.