Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Salt Lake Area Mountains Issued by Trent Meisenheimer for Tuesday - March 27, 2018 - 4:05am
bottom line

The avalanche danger will rise to CONSIDERABLE for wet loose avalanches at the mid and upper elevation steep east through west facing terrain. You'll find an isolated MODERATE danger for deep slabs at upper elevation northwest through east facing terrain. LOW danger elsewhere.

Loose dry avalanches, and shallow wind slabs can be triggered today, especially at the upper elevation northerly facing terrain. Even a small slide is serious if a ride would carry you off a cliff, into trees or down a long, icy slope.
special announcement

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current conditions

This morning it's clear, cold and crisp - with current mountain temperatures in the single digits to low teens F°. Winds are from the north and light, averaging 5-10 mph at upper elevations. The last few snowflakes fell yesterday afternoon, leaving behind a fairly uniform 4-8" of new snow in the SLC mountains.

There is a supportable crust beneath the new snow on most all aspects and elevations up to about 10,000'. Upper elevation northerly facing slopes are holding the best of the shallow, cold dry snow. The icy crusts may not soften for the next few days, so be prepared for hard, “slide for life” conditions on many aspects in steep terrain.

Mark White and Drew Hardesty have observations that are worth reading found HERE.
recent activity

Most all the avalanche activity yesterday was within the new snow. Many loose dry avalanches were reported, these were confined but not limited to steep northerly facing terrain.

Observers were out in the bigger terrain in LCC yesterday and noted large and destructive avalanches that ran naturally sometime around Thursday, March 22nd. They were all class 3 in destructive size, facing north through east and in the elevation range of 10,200-10,500'. These slide were observed in Box Elder, Pheifferhorn, and the Hogum head wall.

Photo: Left - L.Dunn showing a dry loose avalanche. Photo: right - Mark White showing another dry loose avalanche.

Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

The light, cold, dry snow will see the strong March sun for the first time today ~ with 4-8" of new snow sitting on a very slick and uniform hard layer, the loose wet snow will likely run fast and far - piling up deeply in tight chutes and gulleys. If you are going to be in steep southerly facing terrain, be mindful of whats above and below you. If the snow becomes damp or you start seeing rollerballs shedding off of cliffs or rocks bands, it's time to get out of there.
Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Long running sluffs on sustained slopes steeper than 35°, and shallow wind slabs can be triggered today, especially at the upper elevation northerly facing terrain. While these slides would be shallow, the terrain you are in will make a difference. Even a small slide is serious if a ride would carry you off a cliff, into trees or down a long, icy slope.
Avalanche Problem 3
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

At upper elevations it is still possible to trigger a deep slab avalanche in very isolated places breaking on a weak facet layer. Slopes with a shallower snow pack are most suspect – including those that have slid one or more times this year or are steep and rocky. It’s a low probability of triggering a slide, but high consequences if you do.

weather

Glorious mountain weather is on tap for today - clear, calm and sunny. Mountain temperatures will top out in the mid 30's at 9,000'. Winds will remain from the north and should be well behaved with speeds in the 5-15 mph range at upper elevations.

general announcements

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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.