Wasatch Cache National Forest
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 Salt Lake County.

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AVALANCHE ADVISORY

Tuesday, February 12, 2008  7:30 am
Good morning, this is Brett Kobernik with the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center with your backcountry avalanche and mountain weather advisory.  Today is Tuesday, February 12, 2008 and it’s about 7:30 am. 

 

Current Conditions:

Under partly cloudy skies ridgetop temperatures are in the upper teens to low twenties.  Ridgetop winds decreased since yesterday and are from the west northwest averaging 5 to 10 mph gusting from 20 to 40 mph.

 

Snow and Avalanche Discussion:

Most backcountry observations included good stability, poor snow conditions, large and somewhat sensitive cornices.  (Cornice Extravaganza)  One cornice that broke in Porter Fork produced a fair sized debris pile but didn’t initiate a slab avalanche.  A more serious cornice failure along the Manti Skyline did force a slab avalanche to release which covered up snowmobile tracks from earlier.  Cooler temperatures during Monday compared to Sunday kept wet activity confined to lower elevations with melt freeze crusts hardly softening on many higher elevation southerly aspects.

 

While the overall avalanche danger is generally low you will want to keep a few things in mind.  If you’re getting into terrain where cornices have formed remember that these monsters are still somewhat sensitive.  The mild temperatures over the last few days have added to their instability.  Also, mild temperatures today will most likely loosen the snow at lower elevations again making it wet and possibly producing some small slides.  Watch for this mainly below 7000 feet in elevation.  Terrain traps such as gully bottoms are bad places to linger with these conditions.

 

Bottom Line for the Ogden, Salt Lake, Park City and Provo area mountains:

The avalanche danger is mostly LOW.  Again, give the cornices a healthy respect, and watch for the snow becoming damp and loose at elevations under around 7000 feet.

 

Mountain Weather:

Partly cloudy skies this morning will yield to more clearing as the day goes on.  Temperatures will reach the mid 30s at 8000 feet and into the mid 20s along the higher ridges.  Winds speeds will decrease as the day goes on and will be from the northwest.  A cold front should push through mid day on Wednesday and produce some new snow.  This is not a real powerful storm but could produce 6 inches or better.  A ridge of high pressure keeps storms out of the picture through the weekend and into next week.


Announcements

Yesterday,
Wasatch Powderbird Guides did not fly due to high winds and will shoot for Cardiff, Days, Silver, Grizzly, Lambs, the Sessions, and Francis Peak.  They may also use a second helicopter in the Tri Canyons which would more then likely operate in Millcreek.  For more detailed information please call (801) 742-2800 or go to their daily blog.

 

There are a few spots left in the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center’s Brighton Level 1 Avalanche class, February 16-18.  For more information, call 278-0233.

 

For folks with an Alta pass, ACE (Alta Community Enrichment) is offering an avalanche awareness class the evening of Feb 12 and 13, and ½ day the 16th, for $25.  Pre Register at [email protected].

 

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 see any avalanches or interesting snow conditions, 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.

Evelyn Lees will update this advisory by 7:30 on Wednesday morning.