Skyline Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Grant Helgeson

BOTTOM LINE

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


Danger Rose Tutorial

Area's at high elevations that have a snowpack less than 4 feet deep have a CONSIDERABLE deep slab avalanche hazard. Areas with a snowpack of 4 feet or more at high & mid elevations have a MODERATE deep slab avalanche hazard.

New snow is currently falling, snowfall rates will be most intense Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning. A CONSIDERABLE hazard exists at high elevation for sensitive wind slab avalanches. Avoid areas with recent wind deposited snow, those that appear rounded and or pillowed.


CURRENT CONDITIONS

All things considered, riding conditions are pretty good on the Skyline. We're mostly riding in the 6” or so that came down 012810. The surface snow has a creamy feel to it that makes for fun riding & turning. A few inches came down last night which will make things that much better.


RECENT ACTIVITY

No recent activity reported. We spotted this avalanche along Skyline ridge.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

In places where the snow pack is thick, say 4' or more, the snow is healing, and it's getting harder & harder to trigger a deep slab avalanche. It's the places where the snow pack is less than 4' that I'm most concerned about. In the areas of shallow snowpack, there's not much sitting between us and the facets near the ground, thus, it's still possible for our weight to overload the fragile structure and trigger an avalanche. If triggered, these will be very destructive avalanches containing the entire season’s snowpack.

Avoiding steep north - east facing terrain, especially where the snowpack is thin, will help you to mitigate this hazard.

Fresh wind slab avalanches could step down into our weaker layers near the ground once moving, so, look for changing conditions especially on Sunday.


THREAT #2

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

A vigorous little storm moves into the area Saturday morning. It should lay down 8 - 12" of snow before moving west Sunday evening. This storm features winds out of the south - southwest, so, watch for & avoid newly formed sensitive wind slabs on lee aspects (those that face N, NE & E).


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

A series of storms are lined up that will affect the forecast area through Wednesday. These are not huge storms, but, every little bit helps. The snowfall that began last night will continue through Sunday evening with precipitation being most intense Saturday night. Weekend storm snow totals will be 8" - 12". We should see a few more inches each day through the middle of next week too.


GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

See or trigger an avalanche? I'd like to hear about it. You can reach me on my cell: 801-824-0305, or shoot me an email: grant@utahavalanchecenter.org Observers may choose to remain anonymous if they wish.

This forecast will be updated by 7:00am Saturday February 13th.


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.