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
Friday,
January 18, 2008 7:30 am
Good morning, this is Brett Kobernik with
the
Current Conditions:
It’s slightly warmer
this morning then yesterday morning with temperatures just above zero to around
10 degrees. Gusty north winds blew in
the 40 to 50 mph range along the higher ridges on Thursday but did not get into
lower terrain a whole lot. Light
snowfall only produced minor amounts.
Upper elevation terrain is wind affected with crusts and slabs while
sheltered terrain holds soft settled powder.
Avalanche Discussion:
No significant
avalanche activity was reported from Thursday but a number of people did note
some weakness in the upper portion of the snowpack. (SNOWPITS) A few pockets pulled out with slope cuts in
the 4 to 6 inch deep range. (PHOTO) Shear tests revealed this weakness and
visible clues include minor cracking while traveling. This weakness is more pronounced at the upper
elevations in wind affected terrain. I
noted that it was present even on the windward slopes. Cornices were forming along the south facing
slopes. They were hard and stubborn but
would crack if provoked.
For today, weakness in
the wind affected terrain will be the main concern. These pockets haven’t posed much threat but
you may find some areas where they are big enough to ruin your day. Once you start to encounter stiffer feeling
snow you should start really paying attention.
Jump on test slopes to see if they crack. The use of slope cuts is another effective
tool.
Bottom Line for the
There is a
“pockety” MODERATE avalanche danger on steep slopes with
recent drifts of wind blown snow. All
aspects at the upper elevation should be examined closely. Out of the wind affected terrain the
avalanche danger is generally LOW.
Mountain Weather:
Temperatures will be a
bit warmer today with highs around 20 at 8000 feet and in the teens along the
upper ridges. North winds will again be
a bit gusty up high picking up slightly this morning then slowing again later
today. We’ll have cloudy skies with
light snow not adding up to much. Things
cool into the single digits again tonight.
Saturday will be even slightly warmer then today with winds shifting
more to the northwest and cloudy skies with light snow possible. A storm is shaping up for late Saturday
through Sunday which will bring the next good chance for snow. The system will cut off from the main jet and
become a closed low and may affect the area through Tuesday.
Announcements
For information on the schedule of the Wasatch Powerbird
Guides, call them at 801-742-2800, or go to their daily blog.
On Thursday, January 24th, there will be a panel discussion on risk
and decision making in outdoor activities, which should be very
interesting. It will be at the Salt Lake
Downtown Library at 7:00 pm and it will also be broadcast on KCPW.
The free avalanche beacon parks are up and running at Solitude, Snowbird and
the 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).
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.
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.