A MODERATE danger exists in the Wasatch. Human triggered avalanches remain possible. The danger is most pronounced in the steep high northerly and westerly wind loaded terrain and in the shady mid-elevations where we have reactive layers of surface hoar. Careful routefinding and terrain management is required.

A strong weather system diving to the south will allow for some spillover through the northern Wasatch. We currently have overcast skies and light snow falling in the mountains. Temperatures are in the low 20s. Yesterday’s westerly winds backed southwesterly and have continued backing to the southeast, where they’ve been blowing 15-20mph - gusting into the 30s - along the high exposed ridgelines. Elsewhere winds are mostly calm.

· It was the third skier on the slab that triggered the 12” deep and 20’ slab in the upper part of the Y Couloir. It ran 200’ down the chute with no one reportedly caught.

· A ski cut released an 18” deep and 20’ wide pocket in American Fork canyon.

· Other reports of minor wet and dry sluffing in the steepest terrain.

More details, pics, and more can be found in the upper left hand corner of the page under Current Conditions.

Surface Hoar and the accompanying facets are like a snake in the grass. Here’s the scenario: a skier ticks off the 50 degree big bold line/couloir/face at 11,000’ with manageable soft snow issues. No problem. He lets his guard down in the lower angle 33 degree glade exit and triggers the 2’ deep 100’ wide avalanche down and gets wrapped around a tree - or worse. The fragile feathers on Feb 10th were immediately insulated by a few inches of low density snow, protecting them from wind and sun and they’ve been a player ever since. Surface Hoar is typically found in the mid to low elevations where it’s more protected, with a cooler, humid atmosphere during times of high pressure. It’s why the Coalpit Headwall is skiied without incident and why typically perceived “safe” lower angle terrain like Soldier Fork, the Gobbler's Shoulder, and Lamb's is not. Not that I’m necessarily advocating a conga line into the Heart of Darkness.

These may still be triggered – even remotely - up to 2’ deep and 150’ wide, primarily on northwest through northeast facing slopes between 7000’ and 9000’. Slope angles may be as low as 28-30 degrees. Big Cottonwood canyon seems to be the loose north/south boundary for the action. Outliers, of course, remain.

The catch-all for lingering wind slabs and the potential for loose snow avalanches.

Very isolated soft slabs from the Saturday/Sunday southeasterly winds remain in the open steep terrain in the alpine zone. We’ll see some snow today with the storm diving south – if the 2-5” verify, anticipate some sluffing in the steepest terrain.

Another storm, another storm that dives south. We’ll have mostly cloudy to overcast skies and perhaps 2-5” today. Perhaps another 2-5” tonight. Temps will be in the mid 20s, dropping to near 10 degrees by tomorrow afternoon. (These temps at 10,000’) The winds will start to become light and variable until a weak frontal boundary this afternoon where they veer northwesterly. A weak system follows for Wednesday into Wednesday night, with ridging lined up for Thursday/Friday.