AVALANCHE WARNING »
Dangerous avalanche conditions are occuring or are imminent.
Backcountry travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.
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Notice: A SPECIAL AVALANCHE STATEMENT has been issued for the western Uinta Mountains. The recent snow storm has almost doubled the overall snow depth and added substantial water weight to an already weak snowpack. Large human triggered avalanches are probable. These are most likely on slopes of 35 degrees or steeper that face northwest through east above around 8500 feet in elevation. People are urged to stay off and out from under these steeper slopes until the snowpack is stable. |
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT |
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Our third annual Avalanche Center fundraising ride is Saturday February 7th. Click here for more details.
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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 and above treeline the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today for triggering deep, dangerous avalanches which break into old snow near the ground. Human triggered avalanches are PROBABLE on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist on steep slopes facing northwest, north, northeast, east and southeast especially those that are rocky with a shallow, weak underlying snowpack.
Lower elevation northerly facing terrain has a MODERATE avalanche danger and human triggered avalanches are possible on slopes steeper than 35 degrees.
Low elevation slopes facing the south half of the compass generally have a LOW avalanche danger.
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CURRENT CONDITIONS |
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Partly cloudy skies developed overnight and the bottom dropped out of the thermometer. Currently at 10,000’ it’s -2 degrees and right around 5 degrees at the trailheads. An inch of snow has fallen overnight and since the morning of Jan.22nd we’ve received close to 30” of snow at the upper elevations with just over 3” of water, essentially doubling our snowpack in five days. Winds have been very well behaved throughout the storm, but picked up around 4:00 this morning, out of the west, gusting into the 30’s along the ridges.
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RECENT ACTIVITY |
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Due to poor visibility there's no new activity to report.
For recent accident reports click here
For more photos of recent avalanche activity click here
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THREAT #1 |
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PROBABILITY |
SIZE |
TREND |
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Over the next
24
hours.
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The deeper instabilities in our snowpack are cringing at the amount of water and storm snow weight added in a rapid amount of time and I’d suspect the region experienced a significant natural avalanche cycle. While the snow we’re riding in might seem light, fluffy and in your face, we’ve gotta remember the snow we’re riding on too. With all the light fluffy surface snow, the avalanche dragon will easily lure you into its den, making you think you’re good to go. However, our inherently weak snowpack remains tricky this year. The big player is the Thanksgiving rain crust, which supports a tremendous amount of weight. While the snow will feel strong underneath our sled or skis, once we find a weakness, collapse the pack and trigger a slide we’ll be staring down the barrel of a very scary and possibly unsurvivable avalanche. Today, deep, dangerous, human triggered avalanches are probable on all steep, northerly facing slopes at mid and upper elevations. You can avoid this complicated junk show by being patient for the next few days and riding on low angle terrain with no steep slopes above or adjacent to you. |
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THREAT #2 |
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| WHERE |
PROBABILITY |
SIZE |
TREND |
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Over the next
24
hours.
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New snow avalanches were sensitive, but very predictable yesterday, entraining quite a bit of snow as they descended the slope. In most cases, these soft, manageable avalanches aren’t big enough to bury a person, but they could easily knock you off you skis, board or machine and take you for a serious ride over a cliff or into a group of trees. The wild card is- avalanches triggered within the new snow could break into deeper layers of snow as they descend the slope, creating a much more dangerous slide than you bargained for. |
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MOUNTAIN WEATHER |
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Partly cloudy and cold today as a short-lived ridge develops over the region. Highs will be in the mid teens at 8,000’, near 10 degrees at 10,000’. Overnight lows dip into the mid single digits. Winds will increase the next few days, especially along the high ridges, gusting into the 60’s and 70’s by Wednesday morning. A weak brush-by produces a few snow showers Wednesday, then clear and dry weather towards the latter half of the week.
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GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS |
Remember- your observations help to save other riders lives. So if you see or trigger any avalanches please let me know what your seeing. You can reach me at 801-231-2170 or craig@utahavalanchecenter.org
While it's quiet, now is a great time to schedule a free avalanche awareness class for your group or club. You can reach me at 801-231-2170 or craig@utahavalanchecenter.org for more details.
The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted. I'll update this advisory by 7:00 am on Wednesday Jan. 28, 2009. |
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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. |
