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

The avalanche danger remains at CONSIDERABLE on any slope that has old faceted snow that has not yet avalanched. This is most pronounced in the upper elevations on west through north through east facing slopes. Human triggered avalanches are probable in these areas. If you are not able to recognize buried weak snow or not able to determine if a slope has slid you should avoid any steep terrain.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

We have mostly clear skies with ridgetop temperatures in the low 20s and light westerly winds. The snow surface consists of dense powder on northerly aspects and sun crusts on southerly. There has been some wind damage especially in the upper elevations.

RECENT ACTIVITY

No new avalanche activity was reported from the backcountry on Saturday breaking our 7 day streak of human triggered avalanches. There were a few reports of collapsing and cracking and our own Drew Hardesty witnessed one pocket that collapsed and wanted to release but it sounds like the slope wasn't quite steep enough.

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

A slab collapsing the underlying weak faceted snow remains the primary concern today. As time goes on, collapsing becomes less frequent and the snowpack gets less sensitive. However, the current structure alone demands respect. There is no way that you can trust a steep slope with old weak snow that hasn't avalanched. People have teased a few of these but it's just a crap shoot. The backcountry veterans I've heard from are still holding their cards close.

THREAT #2
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 8 hours.

Warm temperatures today may make lower elevation slopes become damp enough that people could initiate a "push-a-lanche" or be able to get snow to move by disturbing it. This is not a high priority concern but something to be aware of.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

We'll have partly cloudy skies today with ridgetop highs up around freezing and light westerly winds. Monday we'll see cloudy skies with the chance of a flurry then a better but quick hitting storm for Tuesday which could be a 6 to 10 inch event.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Discount Lift tickets: Ski Utah, Backcountry.com, Alta, Deer Valley, Park City, The Canyons, Wolf Mountain, Snowbasin, Beaver Mountain, Brighton, Sundance, and Solitude have donated a limited number of tickets for sale at discounted prices.

For the Wasatch Powderbird Guides schedule go to their blog

Dawn Patrol Forecast Hotline, updated by 05:30: call 888-999-4019, option 8,

Daily observations are frequently posted by 10 pm each evening.

You can get a free iPhone application from Canyon Sports to display the Bottom Line.

To get a daily avalanche advisory e-mail click HERE.

For a text only version click the upper left link under Search

For canyon closures call UDOT at (801) 975-4838

Send us your avalanche and snow observations. You can also call 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, or email to uac@utahavalanchecenter.org

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.

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.

Drew Hardesty will update this forecast on Monday morning. 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.