Tuesday, November 14, 2006  7:30 am

Good morning, this is Drew Hardesty with the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center.  
Today is Tuesday, November 14th and it’s 7:30 in the morning.  

We will be issuing daily updates at varying times throughout this storm cycle.  Our regular 
daily advisories will begin later this month. 

Current Conditions:

A warm, vigorous storm system moved through overnight, pounding the Wasatch with strong 
westerly winds and heavy precipitation rates.  With much of the snowfall arriving before 
frontal passage, densities ranged from 12-15% as the rain-snow line hovered around 7500’.  The 
blustery winds averaged 30-40mph with gusts into the 80’s for much of the night.  For snowfall, 
the Ogden area mountains were hit the hardest on the west to southwest flow with up to 2” of 
snow water equivalent, loosely translating to 8-10” along the highest elevations.  The tri-Canyons 
and high elevation Provo mountains picked up 5-6” over and above yesterday’s 3-4”.  We could see 
another 5-6” with lots of graupel before the storm moves on to the east by midday. 

Snowpack and Avalanche Conditions:

Fewer folks were out yesterday and yet there was a serious close call in the unopened Alta 
terrain near West Rustler, a rocky exposed northeast facing shot at a little over 10,000’ in 
elevation.  The skier triggered and was subsequently buried by the 1-2’ deep, 40’ wide avalanche 
with only his face poking out of the snow.  Fortunately, he walked away with only minor bumps and 
bruises.  Just down the street in Little Cottonwood, active control work pulled out avalanches to 
the ground in similar terrain.  Audible collapses in the snowpack were less-than-subtle reminders 
that the early season facets in the high northerly terrain remain active and cranky. 

The new snow and wind drifts will be very sensitive today in steep upper elevation terrain and 
will likely overload the lingering basal weaknesses from the early season snows.  Shooting cracks 
and collapsing in the inverted layering will be the rule rather than the exception as the snowpack 
takes its second ‘thumpin’’ of the year.  The weak basal layering is most pronounced on northwest 
through north through east facing slopes above about 10,000’ and it may be possible to trigger 
avalanches at a distance.  A simple ski pole test down to the ground will give the story in the 
absence of any audible whoomph or collapse.

Bottom Line:

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on any slope steeper than about 35 degrees with fresh drifts 
of wind blown snow.  Human triggered avalanches will be probable and there will likely be evidence 
of natural activity from the brunt of the storm.  Any avalanche triggered in the steep upper elevation 
northwest through east facing slopes will have the potential to be large and dangerous, pulling out 
to the ground. 

Mountain Weather:

The storm should start winding down by midday with another 6” or so expected.  The northwest winds 
should blow 25-30mph for most of the morning, then taper off by the afternoon.  10,000’ temps will 
drop to the low teens.  High pressure builds in for the week with a few minor disturbances expected 
late Thursday and over the weekend.

Finally, remember that this avalanche bulletin describes general conditions and that local variations 
always occur.  Be sure to take a reputable avalanche class and learn to judge local conditions as you 
travel.