Forecasters advise adaptability amid considerably dangerous avalanche conditions

SALT LAKE CITY — Avalanche conditions were rated considerable across Utah on Sunday and forecasters recommended that backcountry users be adaptable in their planning.

In the Salt Lake City region forecast, Utah Avalanche Center Forecaster Dave Kelly said there is fresh snow at all elevations. Wind drifted snow was listed as the number one problem, as it can be picked up by wind and deposited elsewhere. 

If you see cracks, collapses, buildup on cornices or pillowy spots, avoid slopes greater than 30° steep. 

Similar to Salt Lake, wind drifted snow was forecasted as the main problem in including Moab, Provo, Ogden, and Logan. 

In addition to human-triggered avalanches, naturally occurring avalanches could be triggered by cornice falls. 

Cornices form when snow is blown to the downwind, or leeward, side of a terrain feature. 

According to Avalanche.org, falling cornices can lead to slab avalanches on the terrain below. 

UAC Forecaster Paige Pagnucco, the author of the Logan region forecast, explained that cornices can break off farther backward than expected. 

Uintas, Skyline avalanche conditions

Both the Uintas and Skyline region forecasts listed the number one problem as a persistent weak layer. 

The author of the Skyline forecast, Brett Kobernik, wrote that avalanche conditions related to old persistent weak layers are slowly changing. Notably, the layers in that area are unhurriedly becoming stronger. 

It should be noted that it isn’t the case in all areas. 

“You will no doubt still find shallow spots where the snow is hollow, sugary and weak,” wrote Kobernik. 

He stressed that there are still several spots containing troublesome avalanche conditions. Kobernik warned of places with the following qualities: 

• Shallow snowpack with depths as low as four feet 
• Slopes that have already avalanched

Shallow snow is among the most risky in terms of avalanche conditions, per Kobernik.

Forecaster Craig Gordon’s Uintas region report echoed the observations in the Skyline area forecast. 

Additionally, it explained that another winter storm is expected in the Uintas on Monday. As conditions rapidly change, keep an eye on UAC’s website for daily forecast updates. 

Checking for warning signs

UAC’s forecasts explained that dangerous avalanche conditions can lurk beneath the snow’s surface. For example, the Uintas region forecast explained that digging a few feet beneath the surface will reveal weak snow resembling sugar. 

Before heading into the backcountry, avalanche experts urge all users to familiarize themselves with warning signs. Additionally, they urge recreators to be mindful of current weather patterns, as warm temperatures, wind, wet weather, and rapid freezing can increase danger in avalanche conditions. 

As ski season winds down, avalanches are still very possible. UAC’s website displays several naturally occurring and human-triggered avalanches that were reported this weekend. 

Past avalanche conditions summaries: March 9 avalanche danger rated considerable across state