SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

We are winding the season down here at the La Sal Avalanche Center and will only be putting forecasts out 2-3 times per week. Our last forecast will be on the second of April. The Utah Avalanche Center has put together a survey that we'd love for you folks to complete: LINKTOSURVEY. Thanks for a great season.

BOTTOM LINE

Danger by aspect and elevation on slopes approaching 35° or steeper.
(click HERE for tomorrow's danger rating)

Danger Rose Tutorial

COSIDERABLE avalanche dangers exist in SE Utah with new snow, high winds and an extremely weak E-NE-NW facing snowpack. We have not made the transition to spring conditions yet in the high country, and dry winter snow on these E-NE-NW facing slopes is still a major concern. Keep the slope angles down or stay in the trees.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

Snowfall continues across SE Utah and the winds have been up. Way Up! Monday sported 70+ MPH gusts, hourly wind averages in the high 40's and brown skies of dust across the desert from southerly winds. Gnarly. Snows have followed and we've received 2-7 inches in the mountains of SE Utah with the upper end values being received int he La Sals again this time. The new snow should improve wind ravaged snow conditions although there is likely some wind damage and drifting with this snow as well.

Roads into the La Sals have not been plowed yet. San Juan County road guys are heading up to "take a look at it"today. 4wd or chains recommended.

No work has been done on La Sal Nordic system. Volunteers are getting scarce!

THREAT #1

WHERE

PROBABILITY

SIZE

TREND

Over the next 24 hours.

Click here for an explanation of the North American Danger Rating system

New snow is being loaded onto very weak old snow in the mountains of SE Utah, particularly in the La Sals with larger snow totals. Winter still has a stronghold here and spring conditions have yet to be given an opportunity to advance. What this means is that stronger melt-freeze snowpack structures are not well developed down here and new snow, with wind, rapidly enhances slab avalanche formation. We are calling the Avalanche Danger CONSIDERABELon steep E-NE-NW facing slopes where winds from the south are depositing snow and the old snowpack is weakest. Expect MODERATEavalanche dangers elsewhere, taking care to avoid deeper deposits of wind drifted snow.

A snowy week is forecast and it is likely to lead to increasing avalanche danger so... heads up!!

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

NOAA MOUNTAIN WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE LA SALS @10,000FT:

Wednesday:

Mostly sunny, with a high near 38. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Wednesday Night:

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. South southeast wind between 10 and 15 mph.

Thursday:

A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 33. Breezy, with a south southwest wind between 20 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Thursday Night:

A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 20 to 25 mph decreasing to between 10 and 15 mph. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

Friday:

Snow likely, mainly after noon. Cloudy and windy, with a high near 34. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Friday Night:

A 50 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy and breezy, with a low around 18.

Saturday:

A chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 33.

Saturday Night:

A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 21.

Sunday:

Snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 34.

Sunday Night:

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

We will update this message by Saturday morning.

If you see an avalanche or would like to share any snowpack observations (please do!) you can call us at 435-636-3363, e-mail Dave at : dave@utahavalanche center.org, or use the backcountry observations form here. These observations really help!

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.

This advisory provided by the USDA Forest Service, in partnership with:

The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, Utah Division of Emergency Management, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake Unified Fire Authority and the friends of the La Sal Avalanche Center. See our Sponsors Page for a complete list.