Significant avalanche danger in the northern Utah mountains this weekend

On December 15, 2024By Littum

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Utah Avalanche Center issued a Special Avalanche Bulletin on Saturday, Dec. 14, to warn of “significant” avalanche danger in some northern Utah mountains. Here’s what that means.

The special bulletin came into force at 06.00 on December 14 and is expected to continue until 06.00 on Monday 16 December. The affected mountains include the Wasatch Range, the Western Uinta Mountains and the Bear River Range, the avalanche center said.

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“We want to tell people to avoid being on — or under — steep slopes on the north side of the compass,” Drew Hardesty, an avalanche forecaster at the Utah Avalanche Center, told ABC4.com.

Due to heavy snowfall and strong winds, upper elevation slopes facing northwest, north, northeast, and east are expected to see significant avalanche danger above 9,500 feet and moderate danger from 8,000 to 9,500 feet.

The avalanche center said some mountains have received up to 12 inches of snow in the past 36 hours. An impending storm is expected to bring snow to the mountains throughout Saturday and Sunday.

“Keep in mind that sometimes we’ll be able to trigger these avalanches from a distance — that means (people) might be able to trigger them from a distance or even below,” Hardesty said. “Very difficult conditions out there.”

Hardesty said avalanches rarely happen without warning: “The snowpack talks to you.”

He said reenactors may see avalanches or shoot fissures, or they may hear “audible, thunderous collapses in the snowpack.” He also said backcountry skiers and snowboarders should be prepared to make their own rescues.

To stay informed about current avalanche conditions, Hardesty recommended checking avalanche center’s website every morning.

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Background

Here are some things to know about this weekend’s avalanche conditions.

What does “significant” danger mean?

Avalanche danger ratings have five different levels: Low, Moderate, Significant, High and Extreme. This weekend’s hazard level is at moderate and significant levels.

Significant danger means “dangerous avalanche conditions” — with possible natural avalanches and likely man-made avalanches.

Moderate danger means “elevated avalanche conditions on specific terrain features,” where natural avalanches are unlikely, while man-made avalanches are possible, according to the avalanche center.

“Most avalanche deaths occur at significant hazard because the maximum human-avalanche interaction occurs there,” explains the Avalanche Center.

Special Avalanche Bulletin vs. Avalanche Watch

The Utah Avalanche Center issues three levels of public announcements: a special avalanche bulletin, an avalanche watch, and an avalanche warning.

A special avalanche bulletin (which is the one issued Dec. 14) is used when “dangerous avalanche conditions are expected in combination with a mass of people in the mountains,” the avalanche center said.

If dangerous avalanche conditions are expected within the next 24-48 hours, an avalanche watch is issued.

Avalanche Watches are usually followed by Avalanche Warnings, the center said. Warnings are issued when there are currently very dangerous avalanche conditions and travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended or should be avoided altogether.

Special notices are used to inform the public of avalanche closures from UDOT, ski areas and other “relevant events that people may find interesting.”

Matthew Drachman contributed to this report.

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