SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT |
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A few openings are still available in our 4th annual Avy Essential Skills Workshop geared specifically for sledders on the evening of Thursday March 15th followed by an on-the-snow field day Saturday March 17th. Click here for more info and to register. |
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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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A Level 2 (MODERATE) avalanche danger exists on steep wind drifted, shady slopes and human triggered avalanches are possible.
The danger of wet avalanches will rise from Level 1 (LOW) this morning to Level 2 (MODERATE) on all steep sunny slopes and human triggered avalanches are possible during the heat of the day. |
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CURRENT CONDITIONS |
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It’s a bit underwhelming out there this morning. Skies remained cloudy overnight, keeping temperatures mild with lows only reaching into the upper 20’s and low 30’s. Southerly winds aren’t quite as obnoxious as yesterday, but they’re pretty irritating none-the-less blowing 25-35 mph along the high ridges. Riding and turning conditions have gone from hero to zero in the past few days, but a few patches of soft settled powder can still be found on wind sheltered shady slopes. |
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RECENT ACTIVITY |
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Strong ridge-top winds have been able to find enough loose snow to whip up and form a few fresh drifts along the leeward side of upper elevation ridges. In general these are about a foot deep very deep, easy to detect, and break at or below our skis, board, or sled.
Click here to view 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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Ted found this small, sled triggered avalanche from over the weekend. This is a great example a “repeater”… a slope that avalanched once before this season and now has a thin shallow snowpack. Slopes like this that avalanched during the big storm back in mid January have the potential to break into weak snow near the ground. In addition, there’s still an isolated possibility of triggering an avalanche that breaks deeper and wider than you might expect. Steep, rocky, upper elevation, northerly facing terrain fits this bill and remains suspect. Rather than blindly center-punching your favorite bowl or chute, gather some information by tweaking small test slopes similar in aspect, elevation, and slope angle and see how they're reacting before commiting to a steep line. |
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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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Wet avalanches are more straight-forward and easy to avoid. Simply get off of and out from under steep slopes during the heat of the day. In addition, carefully plan your exit strategy so you're not at the bottom of a gully or terrain trap where huge piles of bone crushing debris can bury you very deeply. |
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MOUNTAIN WEATHER |
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The storm track remains well to the north of our region which leaves us with mostly cloudy skies and temperatures climbing into the mid 40’s. Southerly winds gust into the 30’s and 40’s before dying off throughout the day. Overnight lows dip into the upper 20's. The weather pattern remains the same the next few days, but there’s a glimmer of hope for a cold, wet storm to develop late Saturday into Sunday. While the exact details are still being hashed out, it looks like we should see a good shot of snow which lingers into early Monday. |
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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, March 17th.
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. |
