Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Salt Lake Area Mountains Issued by Mark Staples for Thursday - April 7, 2016 - 5:36am
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Avalanche conditions are generally safe and the avalanche danger this morning is LOW at all elevations and aspects. The snowpack has adjusted to warm temperatures the last few days by warming then refreezing. By afternoon the danger could rise to MODERATE as the snow melts and becomes wet.
special announcement

End of the season: Sunday, April 10th, will be our last regular early morning up date for the 2015-2016 winter season. We will continue to do weather-dependent intermittent updates through the month of April, and continue to post your observations on a daily basis. Your observations will become increasingly important to the backcountry community.

On April 8-9 the Adventure Gear Expo, Utah’s largest interactive adventure festival and outdoor gear sale for the public, will be at the South Town Expo Center in Sandy highlighting 100+ local and national retailers, manufacturers and non-profits in active outdoor sports, outdoor photography and adventure travel. If you buy tickets online using the promo code GOUAC, you will get a $2 discount and they will donate $2 to the UAC.
current conditions

This morning air temperatures are slightly above freezing in the mid 30's F at most elevations. Winds are blowing 5-10 mph gusting 15-20 from the NW. These temperatures are about 10 degrees warmer than yesterday morning; however, clear skies allowed the snow surface to refreeze this morning. Yesterday morning the snowpack on SE aspects softened around 10:30 a.m. It should soften earlier and faster than yesterday. The snow surface may remain wet and unfrozen in places where trees shade the snow from a view of the clear skies.
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

Avalanche conditions are generally safe. The snowpack has experienced several melt-freeze cycles this week, and it should be well adjusted to today's warm temperatures. The likelihood of loose wet snow avalanches may be slightly higher than yesterday, but still not a major concern. The best strategy for good riding conditions and to avoid avalanches is to move around the compass as the sun warms the snow. Start on east facing slopes and rotate towards west facing slopes through the day.

The key to avoiding avalanches is timing. Ride slopes just as they soften and get off them as the snow becomes increasingly wet and riding conditions deteriorate.
weather

A ridge of high pressure will bring more clear skies and warm temperatures today. High temperatures should be near 50 degrees F today. Winds will blow 10 mph and gust to 20 mph from the north at ridgetops. Mostly sunny skies and warm temperatures should continue through Friday. An area of low pressure to the south will begin moving over Utah Friday evening and bring moisture. Temperatures will remain fairly warm and the rain/snow line will be between 8000 and 9000 feet.
general announcements

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

To get help in an emergency (to request a rescue) in the Wasatch, call 911.  Be prepared to give your GPS coordinates or the run name. Dispatchers have a copy of the Wasatch Backcountry Ski map.

Backcountry Emergencies. It outlines your step-by-step method in the event of a winter backcountry incident.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry, but no one is hurt and you do not need assistance, please notify the nearest ski area dispatch to avoid a needless response by rescue teams. Thanks.

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DAWN PATROL Hotline updated daily by 5-530am - 888-999-4019 option 8.

TWITTER Updates for your mobile phone - DETAILS

UDOT canyon closures:  LINK TO UDOT, or on Twitter, follow @UDOTavy, @CanyonAlerts or @AltaCentral

Utah Avalanche Center mobile app - Get your advisory on your iPhone along with great navigation and rescue tools.

Powderbird Helicopter Skiing - Blog/itinerary for the day  

Lost or Found something in the backcountry? - http://nolofo.com/

Ski Utah mobile snow updates

To those skinning uphill at resorts:  it is critical to know the resort policy on uphill travel.  You can see the uphill travel policy for each resort here. 

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you shop from Backcountry.com or REI:  Click this link for Backcountry.com or this link to REI, shop, and they will donate a percent of your purchase price to the UAC.  Both offer free shipping (with some conditions) so this costs you nothing!

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on ebay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your ebay account here and click on ebay gives when you buy or sell.  You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny.

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 exist.