There is a MODERATE avalanche danger for soft slab and dry-loose new snow avalanches on all aspects at the mid and upper elevations. Areas of MODERATE avalanche danger exist on all aspects at the mid and upper elevations where it is possible to trigger an old hard slab or a new shallow soft slab of wind-drifted snow.
On northerly and east-facing slopes at the mid and upper elevations, there is a MODERATE danger of triggering an avalanche that fails 2-4 feet deep in a persistent weak layer.
Heads up: If you're Ice Climbing in Provo Canyon, be sure to read THIS observation. Be careful of small avalanches that could sweep you off your feet.
Provo received the most snow yesterday with 3-10 inches of new snow. I would look for shallow soft slabs of new snow and dry-loose avalanches in steep terrain. Slope cuts and shovel tilt tests should be good tools for evaluating how the new snow reacts.
Yesterday, the wind blew from the east-northeast at speeds of 10-15 mph with gusts into the 20s for roughly 27 hours. Therefore, be on the lookout for new shallow soft slabs of wind-drifted snow. These drifts could be in areas we aren't used to because the east wind component is odd for us. Strong wind from the past week has created hard slabs of wind-drifted snow in many areas. These slabs formed over our faceted snow surface causing them to stick around longer than normal. You can find these wind slabs well off ridgelines and on all aspects, but more commonly on north through east slopes. Be on the lookout for wind slabs today, and remember, hard wind slabs allow you to get well out onto a slope before fracturing, often even above you.
Triggering an avalanche that fails in the buried facets and depth hoar down near the ground is becoming increasingly less likely and this avalanche problem is close to dormancy.
For me, there is too much faceted snow in the snowpack to trust it. I do not like faceted snow. It's unpredictable and scary. I am going to remain patient and continue to avoid steep slopes facing the north side of the compass for the foreseeable future. If you choose to ride that terrain, set yourself up for success and consider the consequences (like trees). Travel one at a time and avoid steep, shallow, rocky terrain where it is more likely to trigger a deeper slab avalanche 2-4 feet deep.
Photo: Drew Hardesty showing the two layers of weak faceted snow in the snowpack.
Urgent battery replacement required for anyone who received batteries from one of our participating "Batteries for Beacons" shops. Please review the "Batteries for Beacons" replacement notice on our blog. Batteries distributed through our "Batteries for Beacons" program this year have shown to be inadequate length.
Join the UAC at Deer Valley on January 30th for the 2nd Annual Blizzard Ball Gala. Bruce Tremper, the Former Director of the Utah Avalanche Center, will deliver the keynote address.
Pro Observer Derek Debruin was ice climbing in Provo Canyon and gave a great write up with a warning to ice climbers that he found the snow to be very reactive in moderately steep rock and ice terrain (see picture). Click HERE to read his observation. Another pro observer reported shallow soft slabs were easily triggered on test slopes within the new snow.
Under partly cloudy skies, mountain temperatures range from 10-15 °F. The wind has calmed down and hardly blows across most of the upper-elevations wind stations. However, Arrowhead (7,500') is blowing northeast at speeds 10-15 mph, gusting into the 20s. Oddly, Cascade (10,800') only blows 5-10 mph. In the past 24 hours, the mountains picked up roughly 3 to 10 inches of new snow with 0.22 to 0.55 inches of snow-water equivalence.
Today, we will see partly cloudy skies with plenty of sunshine at times. Mountain temperatures will climb into the upper 20s °F, and the wind should remain from the south and blow 5-10 mph across the upper elevations. I imagine the new snow improved the riding conditions, and it should be a lovely day in the mountains.
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This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
