Salt Lake Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Brett Kobernik

BOTTOM LINE

Danger by aspect and elevation on slopes approaching 35° or steeper.
(click HERE for tomorrow's danger rating)


Danger Rose Tutorial

There remains a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger on many slopes above 8,500 feet that faces northwest, north, northeast, east and southeast, approaching 35 degrees, that did not slide during the previous week. It's more like “scary” Moderate or “severe consequence” Moderate in that many slopes probably would stay in place with the weight of a person but if it goes, and it could, the avalanche could be quite large and results disastrous.


CURRENT CONDITIONS

Clear, calm and cold. Temperatures at most locations are in the zero to five below range with the Spruces Campground reading 10 below. Winds are light and variable but many locations have an easterly component to them. No new snow fell in the last 24 hours. Many people found riding conditions quite pleasing on Saturday but there was some wind damage along some of the upper ridges. (PHOTO)


RECENT ACTIVITY

There was minor new snow natural avalanche activity reported from many locations from during the recent storm in the form of small class 1 soft slabs. These would've been mostly harmless to people but one was reported as being a bit bigger in the north facing aspect of South Monitor along the Park City ridgeline. Some folks found small minor fresh wind drifts that would crack and release on Saturday. These were mainly right along the ridges.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

Most experts still can't get comfortable about getting onto the big slopes yet. Many people are reporting better shear test results then a week ago. Also, the slab has gained strength and some areas are showing the deep facets gaining some strength as well (PHOTOS). Still, the current snowpack structure alone dictates some more patience. Areas where the snowpack is thinner may be more likely to release. It would be nice to have a storm give the snowpack a thump with something like 3 or 4 inches of water weight and have it not produce any natural activity. We'd feel much better about it then but it doesn't look like that will happen anytime soon. In the mean time, give it some more breathing room.


THREAT #2

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

Most of the minor cracking will have settled out from Saturday but watch for those newer drifts along the higher ridgelines.


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

Temperatures will warm into the low to mid teens today and winds will remain light and variable and may still have an easterly component. Skies will be mostly clear. We'll see a storm move through Monday with snow showers lingering through Tuesday and Wednesday. Warm air advection should start snowfall Monday followed by northwest flow for Tuesday and Wednesday. Models are showing a half inch to 1 inch of water, so, I'd expect another 6 to 12” event by the time it's done. I'll note that I'm somewhat suspect of warm fronts and decent snowfall.


GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Wasatch Powderbird guides flew in Cardiff fork with home runs into Little Cottonwood. They'll be in American Fork today with the possibility of home runs through White Pine. Click here to go directly to their operations planning page.

Beacon training parks are up and running in the Cottonwoods – one is near the Snowbird parking structure on the bypass road in Little Cottonwood, and the other is at the west end of Solitude's lower parking lot in Big Cottonwood.

If you want to get this avalanche advisory e-mailed to you daily click HERE.

For a text only version, the link is on the left side bar, near the top.

UDOT highway avalanche control work info can be found by calling (801) 975-4838. Our statewide toll free 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.

Your snow and avalanche observations help everyone in the backcountry community.  Please let us know what you're seeing by leaving a message at (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, or email us at uac@utahavalanchecenter.org. (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.

Bruce Tremper will update this advisory by 7:30 tomorrow morning.


This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done.  This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.


This advisory provided by the USDA Forest Service, in partnership with:

The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, Utah Division of Emergency Management, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake Unified Fire Authority and the friends of the La Sal Avalanche Center. See our Sponsors Page for a complete list.