Avalanche Watch Issued For Northern Utah
Jan 22, 2021, 5:06 PM | Updated: 6:43 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – An avalanche watch was issued ahead of a storm that is heading into northern Utah Friday.
The danger is expected to be high in the backcountry of the Wasatch Range, Bear River Range and the Uinta Mountains, according to officials with the Utah Avalance Center.
The watch lasts through 6 a.m. Saturday.
1/22/2021 The UAC has issued an Avalanche Watch for the Wasatch, Bear River Range and Uinta mountains. Heavy snowfall later Friday and Saturday will create dangerous avalanche conditions. Avalanche danger likely rising to HIGH by Saturday.
— UtahAvalancheCenter (@UACwasatch) January 22, 2021
“We’ve got stronger snow on weaker snow,” said Craig Gordon with the Utah Avalance Center. “The problem with this setup, like we’ve seen with other storms, you’ll be able to trigger avalanches from a distance.”
Wind-blown snowdrifts are already as high as trees in some areas and they could get even larger with the coming snow.
Avalanche officials said to stay off of and out from under backcountry slopes steeper than 30 degrees.