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 there are pockets of CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger and human triggered avalanches are still probable on steep wind loaded slopes with an easterly component to their aspect.
In addition, while deep dangerous avalanches which break into old snow near the ground are becoming more isolated events, a person could still trigger scary slides in steep, rocky, upper elevation terrain which has a shallow, weak snowpack. While a MODERATE avalanche danger exists in this type of terrain, think of the consequences of your terrain choices.
Most other slopes generally have a LOW avalanche danger. |
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CURRENT CONDITIONS |
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Skies remained clear overnight, but a weak weather system brushing to the north of the region might usher in a cloud or two and a few flurries in the next few hours. The big news this morning is the wind. It got cranking along the ridges around 7:00 last night, averaging 15-30 mph, gusting into the 60’s along the highest ridges. Currently, temperatures are in the upper teens at 10,000’ and low 20’s at the trailheads. Recent wind events hammered ridgelines and open bowls and much of our above treeline terrain looks like the moon. In addition, it’s that time of year when the sun is getting high in the sky, creating tricky crusts on sunny slopes. However, in between the windjacked snow and sun crusts, good cold settled powder will be found, especially in shady wind sheltered terrain.
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RECENT ACTIVITY |
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A natural cornice break late Friday produced a class two slide on a steep, upper elevation, east facing slope in upper Weber Canyon. The avalanche was 2' deep and around 150' wide.
A few natural pockets from Wednesday's wind event.
For more photos of recent avalanche activity click here |
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THREAT #1 |
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| WHERE |
PROBABILITY |
SIZE |
TREND |
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Over the next
24
hours.
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We've seen two distinct wind events this week. First, Wednesday’s hurricane force winds created widespread, sensitive wind slabs and the region saw a few natural avalanches on upper elevation, steep wind loaded slopes. Warmer temperatures helped these settle out rather quickly, but now last night's wind whipped what little snow there was left to blow around, into a whole new batch of drifts. As evidenced by Friday's cornice triggered slide, I think a rider could easily trigger one of these slabs today and it may be a little bigger than you bargained for. You’ll find these at and above treeline on slopes with an easterly component to their aspect. Due to the strength of the wind, slabs may have formed lower downslope than usual. Today you'll want to avoid any fat looking, hollow sounding piece of snow. Also be aware- cornices have grown large and may break back a little further than you expect. |
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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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We've been hunting for deep instabilities and are psyched to find our snowpack behaving more like it should this time of year, especially where the pack has grown deep. Remember though, we don’t trigger dangerous avalanches from areas where the snowpack is deep and stable... nope, we trigger them from shallow spots or deficit zones. So the key here is to still avoid terrain where the snowpack is thin and the usual suspects- steep, rocky slopes- come to mind. While it’s becoming more of an isolated event, there’s still terrain out there where you could trigger a scary avalanche which breaks into weak snow near the ground. You’d most likely find this condition at the mid and upper elevations on slopes facing the north half of the compass. In addition, terrain outside the core of the western Uinta’s remains thin and therefore a little trickier. A re-evaluation of the snowpack would be in order the further east you travel. |
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MOUNTAIN WEATHER |
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Strong west and northwest winds are on tap this morning with hourly averages in the 20’s and 30’s, gusting into the 60’s along the high peaks. Winds should relax later in the day. Not much variation in temperature with highs at 8,000’ reaching into the mid 20’s and at 10,000’ in the upper teens. Overnight lows dip into the low teens. High pressure builds through mid week giving us sunny skies and warm daytime highs near 40 degrees. Stormy weather should begin to move into the state early Thursday, but we’ll have a better handle on that one for the midweek update.
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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 Feb. 4, 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. |
