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
Monday,
February 25, 2008 7:30 am
Good morning, this is
Current Conditions:
News today is that
Alta hit 500” total snowfall for the season with this storm. This has happened in February 4 times in 27
years. Titus Case with Alta snow safety gave
us that tid-bit, thanks Titus, you and Howie are some
of the “nerdiest” snow nerds and that’s
a compliment. I guess it’s all just
icing on the cake from here on out but I like A LOT of icing so I hope it keeps
it coming. This storm has produced 12 to
16 inches of snow with 1.5 to 2 inches of water weight over the last 24
hours. Graupel early on attributed to
some of the higher water content. Winds
were right on key yesterday with strong gusts along
the ridges but have been slowing especially at the mid and lower
elevations. Terrain features channeled
winds all different directions and produced drifts on many aspects. Temperatures are mild in the mid to upper 20s
in the 7 to 8000 foot range and in the teens at the higher locations.
Snow and Avalanche Discussion:
Wind drifting
highlighted yesterday’s avalanche activity with cracking, collapsing and small
human triggered pockets reported from the few nitwits that were foolish enough
to be out walking around, myself one of them.
The weakness with these was either within the lighter density snow from
Friday or within the storm snow which was falling during the day on
Sunday. There was one report of a
natural avalanche that occurred at low elevation in
While the period for
natural avalanche activity due to winds was probably late yesterday and a thing
of the past now, I’d expect that human triggered avalanches are still possible
today and likely with well placed slope cuts in the fresh drifts. The weakness will again be either within the
new snow or into Fridays layer which will produce a larger slide. A “punchy” or upside down feel to the snow
should clue you in that you’ve found a wind slab. These may be stiff enough along the higher
elevations that you may not notice them under the newest snow so pay close
attention to what’s been covered up. We’re
expecting steady light snow this morning but any spike in snowfall rates can
instantly bump up the danger and produce natural activity. Often, gustier winds accompany periods of
heavy snowfall which also is a contributor.
Temperatures are quite
mild at lower elevations keeping the snowpack damp there. Rain may again fall on the snow below around
5500 or 6000 feet. Also, the sun may
attempt an assault on the snow this afternoon.
Fresh snow is easy prey for the sun and succumbs fast becoming unstable
rapidly. All these factors need to be
taken into account as we may see wet avalanche activity at lower elevations and
on southerly facing slopes today.
Bottom Line for the
Out of the wind
affected terrain and out of the sun most slopes have a MODERATE avalanche
danger. Be careful with these danger ratings, remember the devil is in the details. I’d be surprised not to see at least some
human triggered wind slabs along the ridges today and with the possibility of
some natural wet avalanche activity this puts us just into the CONSIDERABLE
danger rating on the described terrain.
This hazard exists in wind affected areas for dry wind slabs as well as
at lower elevations and southerly facing slopes for wet activity.
Mountain Weather:
An impulse should
produce some snow this morning throughout the Wasatch. It will be lighter density then yesterday’s snow
with 3 to 6 inches expected and around a quarter inch of water. Winds should continue to decrease as the
morning progresses and remain from a northwesterly direction. Snow tapers off mid day when the sun may peek
through. Another impulse may produce a
bit more snow late this afternoon.
Temperatures will make it into the 30s at the 8000 foot level and upper
20s along the ridges. High pressure
moves in for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Announcements
The Wasatch Powderbird Guides did not fly
yesterday due to weather and probably won’t get out today but will attempt if
weather permits. For more detailed
information please call (801) 742-2800 or go to their daily blog.
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).
Watch video tututorials and fieldwork from UAC staff at our YouTube
channel.
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.