Salt Lake Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Evelyn Lees

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

A special avalanche advisory remains in affect for the mountains of Utah, where dangerous conditions continue on steep, snow covered slopes. Backcountry travelers and snowmobiles can trigger large deep avalanches breaking near the ground, which may be unsurvivable. Backcountry travelers should avoid travel on and below steep slopes.

BOTTOM LINE

Danger by aspect and elevation on slopes approaching 35° or steeper.
(click HERE for tomorrow's danger rating)


Danger Rose Tutorial

Bottom Line Salt Lake, Park City and Provo area mountains:

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE with pockets of HIGH danger on mid and upper elevation slopes facing northwest through north through east, approaching 35 degrees or steeper. Deep, unsurvivable avalanches breaking near the ground can be triggered, both on, below or adjacent to these steep slopes. In addition, avoid any steep slopes with fresh drifts on windblown snow, which could be very sensitive.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

A storm system crossing northern Utah is favoring the mountains north of I-80. As of 6 am, the Ogden mountains have 4 to 8” of new snow, but have also received the brunt of the southwesterly winds. Average speeds have been in the 25 to 40 mph range, with gusts to 60. South of I-80, 2 to 5” have fallen in the Salt Lake and Park City mountains, and about 2 to 3” in the Provo mountains. Average wind speeds have been a bit less, with peaks favored by SW flow peaking overnight at 15 to 25 mph averages, and gusts in the 40s. In less favored terrain, averages have been in the 10 to 20 mph range. Temperatures are in the teens and 20s.

RECENT ACTIVITY

Yesterday was a quieter day in the backcountry. There was one skier triggered slide in the Provo area mountains – a delayed release on a previously skied slope that slid earlier this season, east facing at 9,900’, 1-2 feet deep by 75 feet wide. There were two explosive triggered slides in American Fork, both about 4’ deep, on NNE facing slopes, the largest 200’ wide. Snowmobilers triggered 2 large slides in the Logan area mountains, and collapsing is still being reported in less traveled areas.

THREAT #1
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

The scary skiing and riding conditions continue, due to a complete lack of trust in the weak, faceted snow near the ground. A slide triggered on this deep weak layer will be 2 to 4 feet deep, 100 to 400’ wide, and a burial in the dense, deep debris could be fatal. Avoidance of steep slopes is the only sure way to prevent getting on the wrong end of a freight train of snow traveling 60 mph. The widespread nature of the weak, basal snow is shown by the extensive distribution of recent slides.

THREAT #2
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 12 hours.

The new snow is landing on a variety of old snow surfaces – rough to slick crusts, and in shady sheltered spots, on yesterday’s loose, sugary a mix of surface hoar and near surface facets. This will make the new snow more sensitive, especially on wind drifted slopes. This danger will be the highest in the Ogden area mountains and anywhere else that receives the greatest amounts of snow and wind. Wind drifts should be avoided, and sluffing and shallow soft slabs on steep slopes will become increasingly easy to trigger as the day goes on and the snow piles up.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

Snow should fall for most of the day, decreasing to snow showers tonight. Storm totals will be 8 to 14 inches north of I-80, and 4 to 8” south of I-80. The southwesterly winds will be in the 10 to 20 mph range, with gusts to 30. More exposed stations will average closer to 30 mph, with gusts in the 40s. Temperatures will be in the teens and 20s. Winds will gradually shift to the west, and decrease tonight as high pressure builds in for the coming week.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

This winter’s Snowbird fundraiser for the Utah Avalanche Center will be a relaxed, après-ski party Saturday, February 6, from 4:30-7. Hours d’oeuvres, beer, wine, music and a silent auction. Golden Cliff, Cliff Lodge, $50. For more info and to purchase tickets, click HERE.

Discount Lift tickets: Ski Utah, Backcountry.com, Alta, Deer Valley, Park City, The Canyons, Wolf Mountain, Snowbasin, Beaver Mountain, Brighton, Sundance, and Solitude have donated a limited number of tickets for sale at discounted prices.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides flight plan.

Dawn Patrol Forecast Hotline, updated by 05:30: 888-999-4019 option 8.

Daily observations are frequently posted by 10 pm each evening.

Free UAC iPhone app from Canyon Sports.

Subscribe to the daily avalanche advisory e-mail click HERE.

UDOT canyon closures UDOT at (801) 975-4838

We appreciate all your avalanche and snow observations. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, or email to uac@utahavalanchecenter.org

Donate to your favorite non-profit – The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center. The UAC depends on contributions from users like you to support our work.

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.

Drew will update this forecast on tomorrow morning. Thanks for calling.

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.

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.