Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Salt Lake Area Mountains Issued by Drew Hardesty for Thursday - April 6, 2017 - 5:37am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is LOW. Still, minor wet and dry point release avalanches are possible in steep terrain. Continue to avoid being on or beneath the giant cornices and myriad glide cracks. While not an avalanche issue per-se, "slide-for-life" conditions exist on hard, icy snow.




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current conditions

As of 5am, skies are clear. Winds are light from the west. Temperatures are in the mid to upper 30s, but they still have a few hours of cooling before dawn. East, south, and westerly facing slopes have supportable melt freeze crusts while sheltered northerly aspects host a couple inches of soft settled powder above a supportable temperature crust. Decent quasi-corn riding conditions developed with sun and daytime warming yesterday, but more factors will be at play today for gauging the late morning thaw. The rapidly warming temperatures will be partially offset by increasing cloud cover and southwesterly winds. It will be a bit more of guessing game today.

recent activity

No avalanche activity reported from yesterday.
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

Loose snow avalanches: Generally shallow wet and dry loose snow avalanches are expected over the next couple of days prior to the weekend storm. These should only pose issues for those in and above unforgiving terrain.

  • Dry loose snow avalanches: The few inches of cold dry snow on the mid and upper elevation northerly aspects has weakened with the clear skies and cold temperatures and may be more prone to sluffing on the underlying temperature crusts in steep terrain today. Tomorrow's wind and initial high rain/snow line should erode and deteriorate some of this faceted surface snow, but it's something to watch for with the weekend storm.
  • Wet loose snow avalanches: I suspect that increasing wind and cloud cover will offset the rapidly warming temps except in sheltered and localized terrain. Wet activity should be at a minimum, though it's never a bad idea to be out of the mountains early in the spring. *There is some uncertainty with the weather factors, so if you're seeing the classic precursors to wet activity (rollerballs, pinwheels, unsupportable snow), head to cooler aspects or lower angle slopes.

Cornices: The huge cornices can still fail with the additional weight of a person. Stay well back from their edges, and avoid travel below them.

Slide for life: If you plan to travel in steep, icy terrain, have a way to prevent a “slide for life”. Whippets, ice axe, helmet, ski or boot crampons and/or using a rope to belay are safety measures that can help prevent an accident.

weather

The ridge of high pressure will slowly start to break down ahead of an approaching Pacific storm system slated for the weekend. For today, we'll have increasing clouds and light-becoming-moderate southwest winds. Temps will rise to the low 50s at 8500' and the mid to upper 30s along the high ridgelines. The southwest winds will be, shall we say, unpleasant tomorrow with hourly averages in the 50mph range. Some light spits of precipitation are also possible tomorrow with a rain/snow line to 9000'. 10-18" looks reasonable for Friday night through late Saturday. Mountain temps plummet to near 10°F by Sunday.
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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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