Skyline Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Craig Gordon

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Website issues this morning.... sorry for the late advisory!


BOTTOM LINE

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


Danger Rose Tutorial

While not widespread and pockety in nature, a Level 2 (MODERATE) avalanche danger exists on steep upper elevation slopes. Human triggered avalanches are possible, particularly on slopes with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.

In wind sheltered terrain and at mid and lower elevations a Level 1 (LOW) avalanche will be found.


CURRENT CONDITIONS

Under clear skies, temperatures are in the mid teens to low 20’s. Northwest winds have been blowing in the 20’s and 30’s for the past few days, but backed off into the mid teens and low 20’s overnight. The midweek system made a detour around the Skyline and we got skunked with only two inches of new snow. Unfortunately, riding and turning conditions remain quite shallow.

Click here for recent observations from the region.


RECENT ACTIVITY

No new avalanches to report.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

The light density snow from Wednesday’s storm is getting blown around, forming shallow drifts along the leeward side of upper elevation ridges and around terrain features like chutes and gullies. Easy to detect by their fat, rounded, pillow-like appearance, today’s slabs will be sensitive to the weight of a rider. While mostly manageable in size, remember there isn’t that much snow out there and even a small slide can take you for a nasty, body beating ride.


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

A beautiful day is on tap for the Skyline with sunny skies, diminishing winds, and temperatures climbing into the upper 30’s. Overnight lows dip into the teens. Sunday should be slightly warmer and then a series of weak disturbances is headed our way which might eventually give us a fresh coat of paint. Our best shot looks to be in the late Tuesday/early Wednesday timeframe.


GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted, but will be updated by 7:00 AM Saturday, December 31st.

Your observations- snowpack, weather, avalanche, or just plain riding conditions are crucial to the success of this program and will help keep other riders alive! Please tell us what you’re seeing so we can provide the most accurate information. If you see or trigger an avalanche you can reach me craig@utahavalanchecenter.org or call 801-231-2170 or better yet, follow the links here to post your own observations.

Also, now is a great time to schedule one of our free avalanche awareness presentations for your group or club. Email or call me and we’ll get you booked before things get too crazy.


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.