Salt Lake Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Evelyn Lees

BOTTOM LINE

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


Danger Rose Tutorial

DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS EXIST. The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on mid and upper elevation northwest through east facing slopes steeper than about 30 degrees. Human triggered avalanches are likely on many slopes, and numerous slides are being triggered remotely from a distance, so avoid travel below and adjacent to steep slopes. Cautious route finding and conservative decision-making are essential. Those without excellent backcountry travel skills should avoid avalanche terrain. Fortunately, there is abundant low angle terrain in the Wasatch mountains to play on, and also the south and southwesterly facing slopes have a much lower danger.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

It’s a balmy morning, with mostly cloudy skies and very light snow falling in some areas. Mountain temperatures are in the low to upper 20’s this morning, with a few stations in the Ogden and Provo mountains in the low 30’s. The southwesterly winds have decreased from yesterday’s significant speeds, and are in the 10 to 20 mph range, with only a few peaks gusting to 40 mph. The snow has settled enough that riding and turning on low angles is excellent, though a few of the lower elevation southerly facing slopes are now sporting thin sun crusts.

RECENT ACTIVITY

At least 5 significant slides were triggered in the backcountry yesterday, and many of the details and photos are posted in Current Conditions. They included slides triggered remotely from the ridgeline on northerly and easterly facing slopes in South Monitor, (3-5' deep x 600' wide); Days Fork, (1.5 to 4’ deep by 150’ wide), a 2-3’ deep slide in the backcountry outside of Brighton, and a slide along the Millcreek/Big Cottonwood ridgeline. There was also an unintentional skier triggered slide on Cardiff Peak. Resort control work with explosives was bringing out slides to the ground, and with better visibility, numerous naturals from the storm Sunday and Monday were observed – too many to list.

THREAT #1
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

Very tricky and dangerous avalanche conditions exist. In spite of a natural avalanche cycle, many steep slopes did not slide during the storm, and are just waiting for a human trigger. The slopes of most concern are mid and upper elevation northerly through easterly facing slopes, where there are several buried weak layers of fragile, crumbly faceted snow. Unfortunately, some of the slopes that slid during the storm did not remove all the weak snow, and could avalanche again if reloaded with snow. In addition to avoiding the steep, big open bowls and chutes, steep, smaller terrain features should be avoided, such as steep slopes in the trees and terrain traps such as gullies and road banks. The warning signs of collapsing and shooting cracks are only slowly decreasing, and avalanches can still be triggered at a distance today.

THREAT #2
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

Yesterday’s strong, southwesterly wind event drifted snow, hiding the old avalanche activity, and reloading slopes with snow, particularly those facing north through east. Avoid any new drifts of windblown snow, and realize that many slopes that already slid may be drifted in with snow to the extent that they could slide again.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

A weak storm system moving through northern Utah this morning is bringing light snow to the mountains. Accumulations of a trace to a few inches are possible today, with the greater amounts to the north. The southwesterly winds should be a bit more subdued today, decreasing into the 5 to 15 mph range, with speeds in the high terrain averaging to 20 mph, with gusts to 35 mph. Temperatures will warm into the mid 20’s to lower 30’s. High pressure will build in tomorrow, lasting at least through the weekend.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Once again Ski Utah, Backcountry.com, Alta, Deer Valley, Park City, The Canyons, Wolf Mountain, Snowbasin, Beaver Mountain, Brighton, Sundance, and Solitude have teamed up to give the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center a holiday present - Lift Tickets! We have a limited number of tickets for sale at discounted prices. To order online, go to http://www.backcountry.com/store/promo/6235/hol08-uac-dki-pass-vm.html

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides are up and running. Go to their blog to see their operation schedule today.

We are recording our early morning phone line, (1-888-999-4019, option 8), with avalanche information, by 5:30 am – it’s a good source for dawn patrollers. Also, many of the day’s observations are posted on line under Current Conditions by 10 pm each evening.

Pro Riders Workshop at Snowbird The Utah Avalanche Center and Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort are partnering to offer the first annual Freeride Avalanche Summit, Dec.17-18. The two-day clinic targets advanced and expert skiers and riders who want practical and professional instruction on avalanche awareness, safety and rescue. The Freeride Avalanche Summit includes a unique blend of instruction that combines the expertise of industry leading avalanche forecasters with the experience and influence of local, professional athletes. Click here for more info and to register- http://www.snowbird.com/freerideavalanchesummit.html

Our web site is now formatted for iPhone. You can also download a free iPhone application from Canyon Sports to display the Bottom Line. Search for Utah Avalanche on the Apple's iPhone Apps page or in iTunes.

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).

Donate to your favorite non-profit – The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center. 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 visitour Friends page.

We appreciate avalanche and snow observations. If there’s something we should know about give us a call 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 forecast on Thursday morning. And thanks for calling.

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.