In
partnership with: The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of
Public Safety Division of Comprehensive Emergency Management,
To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day free of charge, visit: http://www.mailermailer.com/x?oid=16351h
For photos of avalanches and
avalanche phenomenon, visit: http://www.avalanche.org/%7Euac/photos_03-04.htm (Updated
3/16)
Photos sent in by observers
throughout the season visit: http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/obphotos/observer.html (Updated
3/12)
For a list of backcountry avalanche
activity, visit: http://www.avalanche.org/%7Euac/Avalanche_List.htm (Updated
3/9)
Early morning preliminary information by about 6:00 am: 801-364-1591
Avalanche advisory
Wednesday, March 17, 2004, 7:30 am
Good
morning, this is Evelyn Lees with the
Current Conditions:
The seemingly unshakable high pressure has northern
On sunny slopes, the snow surface will be frozen rock hard this morning, but will gradually soften as the day proceeds, and eventually reach the slush stage on most steep sunny slopes and on slopes of all aspects at the mid and lower elevations. The shady upper elevation slopes have a lot of wind damage, with only the smallest stashes of soft powder remaining.
Avalanche Conditions:
Like most things in life, timing is everything, and that includes spring travel in the mountains. While the avalanche danger is low early in the day, it increases as the snowpack heats up and the bonds between the grains start to melt. Once the snow becomes wet and sloppy, like a slurpy, it is time to get off that steep slope. Switch to a cooler aspect, get on lower angle slopes, or head home for the day.
Snow conditions at the upper elevations continue the change. There are new hard wind slabs sitting on weak snow that could crack out beneath you, taking you for a ride, and some steep sunny slopes have exceptionally unconsolidated wet loose snow, especially near rocks. So whenever you’re traveling on steep slopes, evaluate the stability carefully, and go one at a time.
Bottom
Line for the Wasatch Range, including the
The avalanche danger is mostly low this morning. With day time heating, the danger of wet, loose sluffs will rise to MODERATE on steep low and mid elevation slopes of all aspects and on all steep sun exposed slopes.
Mountain Weather:
Skies will be mostly sunny today, with breezy northwesterly winds. Speeds will average 20 to 30 mph this morning, with stronger gusts, but there is a chance the winds will decrease by afternoon as they did yesterday. Temperatures will warm into the mid 40’s at 8,000’, and near 30 at 10,000’. Clear skies tonight, with lows near 30. Warmer on Thursday, with highs in the mid 30’s at 10,000’ and near 50 at 8,000’. Looking into the future, the high pressure is unquestionably overstaying its welcome, with dry conditions and very warm temperatures forecast through the weekend and into early next week.
For specific digital forecasts for the
General Information:
The Wasatch Powderbird Guides did not fly yesterday, and if they fly today they will be in Snake Creek, American Fork and Cascade.
If you are getting into the backcountry, please give us a call and let us know what you’re seeing, especially if you trigger an avalanche. You can leave a message at 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140. Or you can e-mail an observation to uac@avalanche .org, or you can fax an observation to 801-524-6301.
The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
Thanks for calling.
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