Utah Avalanche Center advises caution amid warmer weather
Image supplied, Weber County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue unit
In this photo taken Friday, April 7, 2023, Weber County Road Department crews clear the North Ogden Divide of snow brought on by an avalanche.The Utah Avalanche Center is advising people to exercise caution in the backcountry with warmer temperatures expected in the week to come.
A recent uptick in winter storm activity has yielded much-needed moisture amid concerns about below-average snowpack throughout the state. However, sunny skies and warmer temperatures are expected in the Weber-Davis area and beyond over the next several days.
According to a UAC bulletin released Friday morning, avalanche forecasters are concerned that the the combination of deep powder and pleasant weather “will influence people to make poor decisions in avalanche terrain.”
“While most natural avalanches occur during a storm, most avalanche accidents occur after the storm passes, even as the conditions become more stable. People take more risks when the sun comes out, the powder is deep and the visibility is good,” the bulletin stated. “This weekend, the snow surface will be soft and conditions will be excellent. The avalanche danger will be considerable on some slopes and moderate on others, with the potential for riders and skiers to trigger dangerous avalanches on many slopes steeper than 30 degrees.”
According to the UAC, there have been four avalanche fatalities in the Beehive State this season, and all four were preventable.
The Feb. 21 avalanche forecast for the Ogden-area mountains stated that there is a moderate danger for avalanches involving soft slabs of recent storm and wind-drifted snow on all aspects and elevations. Meanwhile, the avalanche danger is considerable on upper elevation slopes facing northwest through north and east, where an avalanche may step down two to three feet into a deeply-buried weak layer.
Shallow, wet-loose avalanches on steep, southerly-facing slopes are also possible when the sun is out, per the local forecast.
UAC is advising those accessing avalanche terrain to travel with others but cross potential avalanche paths one person at a time while companions watch from a safe place. Additionally, the use of avalanche rescue equipment is recommended, with UAC suggesting checks to ensure everyone is transmitting at trailheads.
Updated, region-specific avalanche forecasts are viewable online at https://www.utahavalanchecenter.org/.
