Avalanches are most common during and just after a storm. Human triggered avalanches will be possible today.
It's currently snowing hard in the mountains: remember that avalanche conditions are heightened during periods of heavy snowfall. New snow and wind slab avalanches may be most active this morning in steep terrain.
Have a partner and the gear: beacon, shovel, probe are essential.
Remember that traumatic injury is common with any early season avalanche accidents.
We will update this as conditions warrant. Please submit your observations - thanks
The height of instability should be early this morning with current high rates of snowfall. I do expect avalanche conditions to trend more stable by the afternoon.
Test slopes, ski cuts, and some hasty pits should provide good indication of conditions. Shooting cracks are signs to turn around.
Shifting winds during the storm allow for the potential of drifting on many aspects, although northwest through southeast aspects may be most prone.
We have a lot of upcoming education and events -
If you're seeing anything we should know about, submit your observations HERE.
None.
The Current Picture:
A closed upper level low pressure system moved through overnight, drenching the valleys and laying down a fairly even 6-8" of 10% density snow. Ogden and Provo have received 4-8" with one snowstake at Powder Mountain showing 10" overnight. It's still snowing. Winds were moderate to strong from the southeast yesterday and have rotated around to the northwest where they're blowing 15mph with gusts to 25. Temps are in the mid-20s. We should continue to see "wrap-around" precipitation through about midday with another 3-6" possible.
The Outlook:
It's been a pretty good run so far this October. Since the 9th, a series of storms have produced 20-40" of snow in the Wasatch, with the lion's share in upper LCC and BCC. We'll see a few more inches this morning before the storm barrels off to the east. Mid-week looks warm and sunny with mountain temperatures rising back into the low to mid-40s. A weak system is on tap for Saturday with what looks to be an atmospheric river event for late weekend into early week. These typically are wet, warm, and windy events. We'll see.
History:
This active October weather reminds me of October 2004 where upper LCC received 122" between October 17th and Halloween. The Alta snow stake sat at a cool 81" on November 1st. But it was not all good news that year - the winter of 04/05 was our most tragic year for avalanche fatalities with eight.
(Monday's photo of snow coverage from Alta looking north to the Cottonwood ridgeline)
Trent and I each have been out and about the last couple of days and have found generally 1-2' of snow on the ground with a generally strong and stable snowpack. My observation from the closed Alta ski area is HERE.
Prior to last night's storm, the only semblance of dry settled powder existed on true north above about 10,000'. All other aspects had either burned off to the ground (south), had thermal crusts (northerlies below 9500-10k), or solar melt freeze crusts (everything else).
The current snowfall of medium density should dramatically improve riding conditions.
Knock the rust off and get up to speed with the Utah Avalanche Center podcast. Make sure to catch Early Season Essentials with Bo Torrey HERE or anywhere you get your favorite podcasts.
