Utah is about to get clobbered!
Current forecasts are calling for up to 3 feet of snow in the mountainous areas surrounding Alta, Snowbird, and Park City! A ‘Winter Storm Warning’ is in effect and snow will be accompanied by heavy winds and low temps with the maximum temperature between now and Wednesday evening topping out at 15°F.Â
As a result of that outrageous forecast, an avalanche warning has been issued by the Utah Avalanche Center and skiers and riders are cautioned to avoid slopes over 30º and to use extreme caution while traveling in the backcountry this week. Extreme loading is expected on a variety of weak snow surfaces, which will combine to create a dangerous avalanche recipe.
Related: ‘Know Before You Go’
Avalanche Warning
THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THEÂ FOREST SERVICE UTAH AVALANCHE CENTER.
THE FOREST SERVICE UTAH AVALANCHE CENTER IN SALT LAKE CITY HASÂ ISSUED A BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WARNING.
* TIMING…IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM MST THIS MORNING TO 6 AM MSTÂ TUESDAY.
* AFFECTED AREA…FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN UTAH INCLUDING THEÂ WASATCH RANGE NEAR OGDEN, SALT LAKE CITY, AND PROVO.
* AVALANCHE DANGER…THE AVALANCHE DANGER FOR THE WARNING AREAÂ WILL BE HIGH TODAY.
* IMPACTS…HEAVY SNOWFALL HAS FALLEN ON A WEAK SNOWPACK CREATINGÂ WIDESPREAD AREAS OF UNSTABLE SNOW. TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE TERRAINÂ IS NOT RECOMMENDED. STAY OFF OF AND OUT FROM UNDER SLOPES
STEEPER THAN 30 DEGREES.
Wasatch Winter Storm Warning
WASATCH MOUNTAIN VALLEYS-WASATCH MOUNTAINS I-80 NORTH-WASATCH MOUNTAINS SOUTH OF I-80-Â INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…HUNTSVILLE…PARK CITY…HEBER CITY…Â WOODRUFF…RANDOLPH…ALTA…BRIGHTON
225 AM MST MON DEC 14 2015
…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MSTÂ TUESDAY…
* AFFECTED AREA…THE WASATCH MOUNTAINS AND THE WASATCH MOUNTAINÂ VALLEYS OF NORTHERN UTAH.
* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS…6 TO 12 INCHES IN THE MOUNTAIN VALLEYS WITHÂ 1 TO 3 FEET IN THE MOUNTAINS.
* TIMING…PERIODS OF SNOW…HEAVY AT TIMES…WILL CONTINUE INTOÂ TUESDAY BEFORE TAPERING OFF EARLY TUESDAY EVENING.
* IMPACTS…HAZARDOUS WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTEDÂ ACROSS THIS ENTIRE AREA THROUGH TUESDAY. THOSE PLANNING TRAVELÂ SHOULD PREPARE ACCORDINGLY AND ALLOW FOR EXTRA TIME.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS THAT SIGNIFICANTÂ ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. DRIVINGÂ CONDITIONS MAY BE HAZARDOUS. USE CAUTION. KEEP A WINTER STORMÂ SURVIVAL KIT IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.