SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT |
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Beacon Basin is up and running and located inside the orange fencing on the northeast corner of the Nobletts Trailhead. In addition, Ted installed a Beacon Park in his neck of the woods, near the Bear River trailhead on the Evanston side of the range, so here's no excuse not to be practicing with your rescue gear. |
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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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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today and human triggered avalanches are probable in steep wind loaded terrain at and above treeline, especially on slopes facing the north half of the compass. The avalanche danger may rise to HIGH by days end in this type of terrain.
The avalanche danger is generally MODERATE on steep mid elevation slopes and human triggered avalanches are possible. Be aware that within this terrain there are pockets of CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger, particularly on steep, wind loaded slopes.
Wind sheltered terrain generally has a LOW avalanche danger. |
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CURRENT CONDITIONS |
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A good looking storm is bearing down on the region and the big news this morning is the wind. Southerly winds began cranking around noon Sunday, averaging in the 20’s and 30’s, gusting into the low 60’s along the high ridges. Currently, temperatures are near 10 degrees at 10,000’ and 19 degrees at 8,000’. The light, fluffy, in your face powder is history though you may find patches of undisturbed snow in very wind sheltered mid and low elevation terrain. |
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RECENT ACTIVITY |
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No new avalanche activity to report.
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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By yesterday afternoon, newly formed wind drifts were getting sensitive and forming lower downslope than you might expect. With continued nuking winds overnight, I’d expect today’s drifts will be more widespread and they’re gonna pack a punch. It’s a day of changing avalanche conditions and the danger will be rising, so you’ll need to be on your toes. Due to the strength and variable direction of the wind, slabs are forming in unusual places and in terrain that generally gets stripped clean. Today you’ll want to look for and avoid any fresh wind drift. They’ll be easy to identify- fat, rounded pillows of snow that should look like small, humpback whales. |
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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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A cohesive slab now rests on top of several buried and preserved weak layers of snow. Avalanches triggered today may break into these weaknesses creating a much deeper and wider slide than you bargained for. You’ll need to re-evaluate your terrain choices today and think about the snow you’re riding in and the snow you’re riding on. Take a minute or two, dig into the snow and see for yourself. Tweak road cuts and small test slopes and see how they’re reacting before getting onto big slopes. Above all- think about the consequences of your terrain choices and triggering a slide. |
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MOUNTAIN WEATHER |
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A storm system along the Pacific coast will move inland in pieces today through Wednesday. Today we can expect mostly cloudy skies, strong morning winds and warm temperatures. Southwesterly winds will blow 20-30 mph, gusting in the 60’s, before mellowing out later this morning, only to increase again this afternoon. High temperatures at 8,000’ will be near freezing and at 10,000’ in the low 20’s. Overnight lows dip into the upper teens. Snow develops late in the day with the heaviest snowfall expected tonight through Tuesday. I think a foot of new snow is still a good bet by Tuesday afternoon. Light snow showers linger into Wednesday with high pressure building for 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 Feb. 18, 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. |
