SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT |
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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 pockets of Level 3 (CONSIDERABLE) avalanche danger exist for deep slides that break to the ground. Human triggered avalanches are likely, especially on steep, upper elevation, wind drifted slopes facing the north half of the compass.
At mid elevations a Level 2 (MODERATE) avalanche danger will be found and human triggered avalanches are possible on steep, northerly facing, wind drifted slopes.
Slopes facing the south half of the compass at mid and low elevations and terrain that had no snow prior to the big storm a few weeks ago offer Level 1 (LOW) avalanche danger. |
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CURRENT CONDITIONS |
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A system well to our south is producing light snow showers for the region. Just an inch fell overnight, temperatures are in the mid to upper 20’s and winds are southerly, blowing 10-20 mph along the ridges. Riding and turning conditions remain quite good in sheltered terrain. |
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RECENT ACTIVITY |
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No new avalanches to report, but one of our observers experienced a huge, booming, collapse near Hoyt Peak.
Click here for recent observations. |
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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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As today’s new storm snow starts to stack up it will become sensitive to the weight of a rider. But these shallow soft slabs are manageable, breaking at or below your skis, board, or sled. The bigger problem is the dragons deeper in the snowpack... and they're far from manageable.
The weak snow near the ground continues slowly adjusting to the big storm a few weeks ago and it’s been a week since we’ve heard about or seen any avalanche activity. That’s certainly a step in the right direction, but quite frankly I wouldn’t trust it with my life. Sure people are getting into steep terrain without incident, but the overall snowpack structure is shaky at best. Just like a plane falling out of the sky, low probability/high consequence events have devastating outcomes. Since we can’t see into the snowpack to view where the weaknesses are the best way to avoid triggering a deep dangerous slide today is to avoid steep, rocky, upper elevation north facing terrain, especially where a strong slab overlies weak sugary snow near the ground.
Carefully study the terrain you’re riding today. If it’s upper elevation wind drifted terrain, steeper than 35 degrees, facing the north half of the compass, and didn’t avalanche during the big storm it’s no-go terrain.
The avalanche danger is less pronounced on south facing slopes, low angle meadows and terrain that didn’t have snow prior to the big storm. |
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MOUNTAIN WEATHER |
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A storm system moving through southern Nevada brings snow to the region throughout the day. The best chance for accumulating snow occurs late this morning through this afternoon. Storm totals by Monday morning should be in the 4"-8" range. Winds remain light and southerly and temperatures don’t vary much from where we’re at this morning. Clearing skies overnight into Monday and then another, possibly stronger storm is slated for Monday through Tuesday night. |
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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 Wednesday, February 15th.
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 |
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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. |
