Salt Lake Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Brett Kobernik

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

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BOTTOM LINE

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


Danger Rose Tutorial

We’re dealing with a mostly Level 2 (MODERATE) avalanche danger today for lingering wind slabs and the possibility for some fresh one’s forming later today. Watch the mid and upper elevation northerly facing slopes for these. The danger also includes the possibility for heat related avalanche activity. Watch sunny slopes to become damp as well as all slopes in the low to mid elevations. Damp snow is often a precursor to heat initiated avalanches.


CURRENT CONDITIONS

Skies cleared out overnight and temperatures are fairly cold in the mid teens above around 9000 feet. The winds slowed during the day on Friday into the light to moderate category from the west southwest. New snowfall during the day added up to about 6 inches in most areas with the Provo area doing the best with around 11. The new snow was low density and right side up.


RECENT ACTIVITY

Instability peaked during the high precipitation intensity mid day on Friday with some natural loose snow avalanches and at least one natural soft slab reported. Folks in the backcountry reported minor human triggered soft slabs that were quite manageable. As with new snow instabilities, most people found things less sensitive late in the day after the heavier snow let up.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

There will be two issues to keep in mind during the day today and both should be pretty manageable. You may still find a lingering wind slab that could release within one of the recent layers of snow. Winds are supposed to increase from the southwest as the day goes on especially later this afternoon so we’ll want to watch for snow getting transported into fresh sensitive drifts as well.


THREAT #2

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 8 hours.

You should also anticipate heat related avalanche activity. We should see increasing clouds which will offset the direct sun but it’s the end of March and the new snow can still become damp and unstable under cloud cover. Look for rollerballs and pay attention to the snow surface becoming heavy and damp indicating that the new snow is trending toward instability. If you notice this, it’s not the time to linger in the bottom of avalanche paths or terrain traps such as gullies.


THREAT #3

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

Deep slabs? What can I say, they’re still around and almost impossible to forecast but probably won’t release without another load of snow combined with wind which has been the trigger of all of them over the last month. It’s most likely we won’t hear of anyone triggering one today but you need to know they’re lurking. I was not pleased to see the most recent deep slab in Mineral Fork which released earlier this week. It makes me uneasy.


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

We’ll see increasing clouds as the day progresses as well as increasing southerly winds. I don’t think the winds will play a huge role in transporting snow until later in the day but keep it in mind. Ridgetop temperatures will get into the mid to upper 20s. As it looks now, we’ll have three short wave troughs move through starting later today. Snow may start falling this afternoon but most of it will be tonight with another 6 inches or so expected into Sunday with some areas doing a bit better. Winds will decrease again on Sunday. The 2nd system moves in for Sunday night through Monday with colder temperatures. 700mb level should dip to -12C. Nice. The 3rd system will be a small one for Wednesday.


GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry - especially if you are adjacent to a ski area – please call the following teams to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks.

Salt Lake – Alta Central (801-742-2033)

Ogden – Snowbasin Patrol Dispatch (801-620-1017)

Provo – Sundance Patrol Dispatch (801-223-4150)

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.

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.

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

UDOT canyon closures UDOT at (801) 975-4838

You have the opportunity to participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting avalanche and snow observations. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, or email by clicking HERE

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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.

We will update this forecast tomorrow 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.