Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Salt Lake Area Mountains Issued by Drew Hardesty for Tuesday - December 3, 2013 - 6:37am
bottom line

An overall MODERATE danger exists for human triggered wind drifts and storm snow avalanches. Areas of CONSIDERABLE may exist in the upper regions of Big Cottonwood and along the Park City ridgeline, areas that have seen more snow and wind over the past 24 hours. Remotely triggered slides are possible in mid to upper elevation northerly facing terrain.

Caution: this forecaster's certainty level is only fair with much pre and post storm variability. I would probably choose north or east facing wind-sheltered terrain, initially avoiding slopes above about 35 degrees - with nothing steeper above.




special announcement

Those heading in to upper Little Cottonwood should avoid the Supreme/Catherine's area as Alta is conducting operations to open this terrain for the lift served skiers.

Extra Caution Advised for this week! -

It's been mostly LOW danger for the past week. Now with the arrival of a new storm, don't let powder fever cloud your judgement - let the avalanche conditions settle out before jumping into the steep terrain. Remember that consequences are greater with a thin snowpack as a catch and carry results in the victim getting dragged through thinly veiled stumps and rocks.

Be disciplined with your good safe travel protocol - only one on the slope at a time, maintain visual contact, and have a plan - have good communication among your party and between other parties out there.

current conditions

Wildly variable snow surface conditions prior to the storm have been met with equally variable snow numbers from the storm. The west to southwesterly storm track well favored the Park City ridgeline, upper Big Cottonwood, and the backside of the Ogden area mountains (Monte Cristo and Lightning Ridge areas) with upwards of a foot of new snow. Little Cottonwood has 5" while Provo has cashed in its chips with an inch or two.

Temps have dropped into the low 20s; winds are west to northwest blowing 15-20mph with gusts to 30. Precip, winds, and temps will plummet and dry out within a few hours this morning.

Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

New wind drifts up to 18" can be expected along the higher, more exposed ridgelines and it wouldn't be out of the question to see a slide or two triggered at a distance. These drifts will be more pronounced on steep north through east through southeast facing slopes and generally confined to the upper elevations. Look for rounded pillows and jump on test slopes and choose more conservative terrain at the outset before moving into more open, steeper slopes.

Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

The new snow should bond poorly to the slick wind crusts and areas of weak, loose pre-existing snow, particularly in the northerly terrain. "It feels slabby', commented a couple avalanche workers this morning, before they headed out the door. So let's keep it simple - it's guilty until proven otherwise.

weather

We should see another few inches of snow on a west to northwest flow this morning with winds veering to the north and dropping to 10-15mph on all but the highest most exposed anemometers. Mountain temps will plummet to the single digits by tonight and zero by tomorrow morning. We'll be 4 below by Thursday at 9-10,000'. We may see a couple inches here and there over the next couple days with the next storm on track for the weekend.

general announcements

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.

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), Canyons Resort Dispatch (435-615-3322)

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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 snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.