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 is MODERATE today. The danger will be most pronounced this morning during periods of heavy snowfall where we could see some small natural avalanches.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

It was another very mild night but temperatures continue to drop and the cold front is knocking at our door. Temperatures were in the mid 30s overnight. Southerly winds remained strong overnight but should slow this morning.

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

Your main concern today is new snow avalanches. We should see a period of decent snowfall this morning where it could be heavy at times. This will be when any new snow instability will spike. I don’t think that we’ll see enough snow pile up to really pose all that much threat. This should be a very manageable situation for experienced backcountry travelers. Quick hand pits, shovel tilt tests and ski cuts should all be useful tools in evaluating any new snow instabilities.

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

It hardly seems worth a mention at this point but I suppose if someone monkeys around enough in obscure upper elevation steep terrain with a thin snowpack, they might be able to get a deep pocket to release.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

Snowfall should start soon and we’ll see the best burst this morning. Snow showers could linger through today. Most areas should see 2 to 4 inches with the upper Cottonwoods possibly doing a bit better. Temperatures will continue to drop into the 20s and colder tonight. The winds will be in the moderate category and shift west northwest. Mild weather starts to move in again Monday through Wednesday and another storm is scheduled to start Thursday.

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 and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033)

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

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

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

Twitter Updates for your mobile phone http://utahavalanchecenter.org/twitter)

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

Wasatch Powderbird Guides does daily updates about where they'll be operating on this blog http://powderbird.blogspot.com/.

Remember your information can save lives.If you see anything we should know about, please 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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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.