WEATHER

Avalanches are bigger, more dangerous than past seasons in Utah

Mar 28, 2023, 10:00 PM | Updated: Mar 29, 2023, 4:52 pm

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah gets hundreds of avalanches every year, but this year, those numbers are higher, and the slides themselves are becoming bigger and more dangerous.

You can chalk it up to the massive amounts of snow still hitting the mountains this late in the season.

Last March, Utah had just over 150 avalanches. This March, that number is over 250.

Crews recover body of missing snowmobiler who was buried in Utah County avalanche

Craig Gordon with the Utah Avalanche Center said the slides won’t stop until the snow does.

“More snow equals more avalanches,” he said.

On Tuesday, a slide in Morgan County sent a snowcat with two people inside tumbling 40 feet. Luckily, both escaped without serious injury.

As Gordon looked at the footage from Chopper 5, he said things could have been a lot worse.

“This avalanche is packing a lot of heat, and it’s got a lot of volume to it, enough to tip this snowcat over.”

BREAKING: Two buried, injured in Morgan County avalanche

Of the two people inside that snowcat, one was able to get out, but it took crews nearly two hours to dig out the other man, who was then flown to University of Utah Hospital with minor injuries.

The two were joyriding in snowcats as part of a group of seven people up Gold Ridge Canyon.

Gordon said snow is usually predictable by this time of year, but that’s not the case right now.

“The problem is, this pre-existing snowpack isn’t catching any breaks.”

That means stronger, bigger and more frequent slides can be expected.

Gordon said you can always check avalanche conditions at utahavalanchecenter.org.

KSL 5 TV Live

Weather

A UDOT snowplow clears the road in Big Cottonwood Canyon on Feb. 9. Up to 2 feet of snow or more is...

Carter Williams, KSL.com

Rain, snow to impact many parts of Utah throughout Easter weekend

It might be spring, but winter weather remains in Utah's forecast for Easter weekend as the end of the traditional snowpack collection period nears.

9 hours ago

Man sneezing because of seasonal allergies...

Katia Hetter, CNN

Are allergies making you feel sick? Here’s how to find out

Sniffling a bit more than usual? Welcome to spring allergy season in the Northern Hemisphere. Even if you don’t think you have allergies, it’s worth paying attention to those sniffles.

1 day ago

The Utah Department of Transportation announced Sunday that state Route 210 would be closed for ava...

Mary Culbertson and Brianna Chavez

WEATHER ALERT: Slippery roads and ‘thundersnow’ projected; UHP urging drivers to use caution

Salt Lake City awoke to dangerous road conditions on Sunday after Utah Highway Patrol reported multiple crashes. Continued precipitation off and on is expected on Sunday.

4 days ago

uprooted Brighan City tree...

Karah Brackin and Cary Schwanitz, KSL TV

Northern Utah blasted with high winds

The anticipated high winds blew through Utah overnight Thursday, hitting the northern part of the state with gusts nearly 90 mph.

13 days ago

Strong winds continued to batter the Wasatch Front Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Alex Cabrero, KSL TV)...

Shara Park

WEATHER ALERT: Strong, cold winds batter parts of Wasatch Front

Strong winds continue to batter the Wasatch Front Thursday, whipping bitter cold temperatures through South Weber.

14 days ago

A tree was uprooted in a major wind event in 2023...

Larry D. Curtis and Cary Schwanitz, KSL TV

WEATHER ALERT: Potentially damaging and dangerous winds to blow into Wasatch Front

A winter storm that brought more snow to Utah Tuesday night has passed through Utah and will now be followed by a major blast of wind.

15 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Avalanches are bigger, more dangerous than past seasons in Utah