THE AVALANCHE WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE ALL THE MOUNTAINS OF UTAH. HEAVY SNOWFALL AND STRONG WINDS HAVE OVERLOADED A VERY WEAK PRE-EXISTING SNOWPACK. LARGE UNSURVIVABLE AVALANCHES WILL CONTINUE TO BE SENSITIVE TO HUMAN TRIGGERING. THESE ARE VERY UNUSUAL AND DANGROUS CONDITIONS. BACKCOUNTRY TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED. AVOID BEING ON OR UNDERNEATH ANY STEEP SLOPES, EVEN PERCEIVED MINOR SLOPES IN THE FOOTHILLS OR MOUNTAIN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

By now most of you are aware of Utah’s first avalanche fatality of the year. A 42 year old man was killed in the Snowbasin out of bounds terrain known as Hell’s Canyon. He reportedly triggered a 2-4’ deep hard slab on a steep northeast facing slope and was killed by trauma on the ride. Condolences to the individual’s family and friends.

I also want to recognize the hard and dangerous work carried out by the snow safety teams at our world class ski areas and the Department of Transportation Avalanche Workers over the week and weekend. Good work.

The danger is HIGH. THESE ARE VERY UNUSUAL AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. BACKCOUNTRY TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED. AVOID BEING ON OR UNDERNEATH ANY STEEP SLOPES, EVEN PERCEIVED MINOR SLOPES IN THE FOOTHILLS OR MOUNTAIN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

Skies are partly to mostly cloudy and we’re likely to see a few flurries this morning. Winds are northwesterly blowing 15-20mph gusting to 35. Temps dropped into the upper single digits and low teens. Partial clearing yesterday zipper-crusted some southerly slopes; otherwise snow surface conditions are powder snow. Storm totals since the 18th are roughly 80” in the Cottonwoods, 50” in the Park City mountains, and 40-45” in the Ogden, Logan, and Provo area mountains. All this, of course, falling on one of the weakest unusual snowpacks in years.

Three large dangerous avalanches were triggered in the backcountry yesterday along the Big Cottonwood/Park City ridgeline yesterday.

· A snowboarder remotely triggered most of West Monitor bowl 4-5’ deep and 1500’ wide by mid-morning. This is a steep north to east facing slope at about 10,000’.

· The second, also triggered remotely from the ridgeline was along the West Desolation ridgeline, pulling out 2-10’ deep and 2500’ wide.

· Third was a very close call in Beartrap Fork. A party unintentionally triggered a 4’ deep and 200’ wide hard slab that caught one of the party and carried him 100’, straining him through the aspens below, leaving him partially buried. This on a steep west facing slope at 9500’.

· In Summit Park, a plow triggered a 18” deep and 30’ wide soft slab to the ground on a steep east aspect at 7300’.

· A party of backcountry skiers triggered numerous deep avalanches on the Snowbasin periphery to the north and west of the resort. Each reported to be up to 7’ deep and 300’ wide.

Many photos and reports can be found under Current Conditions, upper left hand corner of the Menu.

A weak disturbance this morning will move through the building ridge of high pressure. Temps will be in the low teens at 10,000’ and the upper teens at 8000’. Winds, gusty from the northwest now, are forecast to drop back to a more reasonable 10-15mph by early afternoon. A weak storm moves through Tuesday into Wednesday with a short-lived ridge to follow for later in the week.

Be sure to attend the après-ski fundraiser at Snowbird for the Utah Avalanche Center, Saturday, February 6, 4:30-7, Hours d’oeuvres, beer, wine , music and silent auction. Golden Cliff, Cliff Lodge, $50. More information. Purchase tickets HERE.

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.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides flight plan.

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

Daily observations are frequently posted by 10 pm each evening.

Free UAC iPhone app from Canyon Sports.

Subscribe to the daily avalanche advisory e-mail click HERE.

UDOT canyon closures UDOT at (801) 975-4838

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

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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.

I will update this forecast on tomorrow morning. Thanks for calling.