SaturDay, February 26, 2000


Good morning.  This is Ethan Greene with the Forest Service Utah
Avalanche Forecast Center with your backcountry avalanche and mountain
weather advisory.  Today is Saturday, February 26, at 7:30 in the
morning.  This forecast is sponsored by a generous donation to the
Friends of the Utah Avalanche Forecast by Black Diamond Equipment.
Check out their stores in Salt Lake and Ogden for all your needs.



Current Conditions:

Most mountain areas received 2 to 4 inches of light density snow
yesterday accompanied by steady 15 mph winds from the southwest
gusting over 35 mph.  The snow tapered off by early evening but
southwest ridge-top winds in the 15 mph range continued.  Overnight
low temperatures were near 10 degrees at 8,000.  Skies are clear this
morning but clouds will increase during the day as a warm front
approaches.


Wind, snow, low visibility, and difficult trail breaking kept most
people in low elevation sheltered areas yesterday.  But if you were
able to wallow your way up hill, the turning conditions were excellent
even on lower angle slopes.


Avalanche Conditions:

The poor visibility limited the number of natural avalanches reported
yesterday, but natural activity was most likely prevalent in upper
elevations areas.  Winds penetrated into the valley bottoms loading
slopes in unusual places.  Today natural activity should be confined
to steep upper elevation wind loaded slopes, but human triggered
avalanches will be possible on wind loaded slopes 30 degrees and
steeper.  We should see enough sun this morning to produce wet sluffs
on sunny aspects, and dry sluffs will still occur on steep shady
aspects.  These loose snow avalanches are possible even at lower
elevations.


Yesterday six people were caught in an in-bounds avalanche at
Snowbasin Ski Resort.  Morning control work produced a large new-snow
avalanche in the Strawberry Bowl Area.  After continued loading from
snow and wind a snowboarder released an additional piece of snow from
the old crown line.  On the way down a pocket of new snow one foot
deep and 80 wide released burring two of the six.  Although quite
banged up, the victims were able to dig themselves out and are doing
well this morning.


Bottom line:

Today the avalanche danger is HIGH on steep upper elevation wind
loaded slopes.  Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely.  In
mid and low elevation areas there is a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger.
Human triggered avalanches are possible in these areas.


Weather:

Clouds and winds will increase today as a warm front approaches.
Snow showers associated with that feature will begin this afternoon.
High temperatures will rise into the mid 20s at 8,000 with southwest
winds.  A splitting storm will bring cooling temperatures and snow on
Sunday.


Wasatch Powderbird:

Wasatch Powderbird Guides will probably be flying today in Cardiff,
Days, Silver and possibly Mineral.  For more information on WPG plans
call 801-742-2812 or 521-6040, ext. 5280.


The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service,
which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes
general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.


Jeff Brown will update this advisory by 7:30 on Sunday morning.