AVALANCHE WARNING »
Dangerous avalanche conditions are occuring or are imminent.
Backcountry travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.
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Notice: An Avalanche Warning continues for the Manti-Skyline. Strong winds, coupled with dense, heavy snow, falling on a historically weak snowpack has created a HIGH avalanche danger and human triggered avalanches are very likely. Backcountry travel is not recommended. |
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BOTTOM LINE
Danger by aspect and elevation on slopes approaching 35° or steeper.
(click HERE for tomorrow's danger rating)
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Danger Rose Tutorial
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At mid and upper elevations dangerous avalanche conditions exist. A Level 4 (HIGH) avalanche danger will be found on steep wind drifted slopes, especially those facing the north half of the compass and human triggered avalanches are very likely.
A Level 3 (CONSIDERABLE) avalanche danger will be found on low elevation north facing slopes and human triggered avalanches are likely.
Mid and lower elevation slopes that face the south half of the compass that had no snow prior to this storm, offer a Level 1 (LOW) avalanche danger. |
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CURRENT CONDITIONS |
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The Skyline got clobbered yesterday with 14” of dense, heavy snow. Light snow continues to fall this morning and temperatures are in the upper teens. Winds switched to the west and northwest late yesterday and are currently blowing 15-25 mph along the ridges. |
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RECENT ACTIVITY |
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No new avalanches to report, but I suspect the region experienced a widespread natural avalanche cycle.
Darce and Steve experienced an active day on the Skyline Friday with plenty of collapasing and whoomphing, shooting cracks, and an avalanche triggered on GE Hill. Click here for their trip report.
Check out Matt's great observation in lower elevation terrain of Fairview Canyon... thanks man!
Click here for recent observations from the region. |
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THREAT #1 |
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PROBABILITY |
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TREND |
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Over the next
24 hours.
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A historically weak and shallow snowpack is no match for yesterday’s storm. Slopes that didn’t avalanche wait for a trigger to kick the legs out from underneath the strong cohesive slab. These are dangerous avalanche conditions and I’ll make it simple- If you trigger a slide today, chances are it will be deep, dangerous, and unsurvivable. Avalanches can be triggered from a distance, on low angle terrain, and in the trees where we usually go to ride in conditions like this. Today you need to avoid being on, near, or under any steep wind drifted slope.
Remember- look for clues to unstable snow like cracking, whoomphing noises, and of course the biggest clue to avalanches..... avalanches on the same kinds of slopes we wanna ride on. Lower elevations don't offer much relief from the sketchy avalanche conditions. They're collapsing and shattering too. Check out this observation from around Electric Lake.
I know it doesn't seem like there's enough snow to avalanche, but these are exactly the kind of conditions when even very experienced backcountry riders get caught, injured, or killed. |
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MOUNTAIN WEATHER |
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The storm is winding down and we should see a few scattered snow showers throughout the morning with a nice midday break. Temperatures climb into the mid 20’s before diving into the teens overnight. West and northwest winds blow 15-25 mph along the ridges. A splitting system should give us light snow Monday night and Tuesday before partly cloudy skies and warming temperatures become the rule for the latter half of the week. |
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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, January 28th. If you’re getting out and about and trigger an avalanche or see anything interesting please drop me an email at craig@utahavalanchecenter.org or call 801-231-2170 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. |
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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. |
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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. |
