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,
March 07, 2008 7:30 am
Good morning, this is
Current Conditions:
Out of the direct sun
on Thursday temperatures remained fairly cool.
Winds were slightly gusty transporting some snow along the upper
ridges. Temperatures dropped into the
mid teens overnight and wind speeds bumped just slightly from the north
northwest.
Snow and Avalanche Discussion:
Observations from Thursday
included scattered small wind slabs that would crack with the weight of a
person, sluffing on sustained steep north facing slopes, minor wet activity on
southerly facing slopes and a couple of cornice falls, one coming off naturally. Diurnal near surface faceting is metamorphosing
the snow on the northerly aspects. This
weakening of the snow surface is the partial cause of the sluffing and also responsible
for a couple of wind slabs that failed on top of it.
Expect to see
scattered small pockets of wind drifted snow that may crack again today. Sluffing should be monitored again on
sustained steep northerly slopes and minor wet activity should also be kept in
mind. The consequences of these problems
are not that great unless you’re in exposed terrain where if you get knocked
down you’ll get pushed into trees or over rocks. Also, cornices need more attention during the
spring as warmer temperatures stress them enhancing their sensitivity.
Bottom Line for the
The avalanche danger
is generally LOW.
There are isolated pockets with a MODERATE danger on
steep, upper elevation, wind exposed slopes, which have recent deposits of wind
drifted snow. Watch for sluffing on
steep northerly aspects as well. As
usual with any clear day at this time of the season, expect the southerly
slopes to become wet which may produce some minor activity. Give cornices their due respect.
Mountain Weather:
We’ll see some high
clouds today with slightly warmer temperatures and light to moderate northwest
winds. Temperatures will get into the
mid to upper 30s at 8000 feet and around 30 along the higher ridges. A mild storm system will move through
Saturday bringing 2 to 6 inches of snow.
We’ll see partly cloudy skies Sunday with a slight chance for flurries
then clearing for Monday. Another system
with a decent cold front is shaping up for late Tuesday but not looking like a
blockbuster by any means.
Announcements
The Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in
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.
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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.