Utah Avalanche Center

Deer triggered avalanches occurred 1/8

Numerous natural and and triggered avalanches at low elevations on the east bench of Cache Valley yesterday and looks like a few today. The avalanches failed on sugary faceted snow under the recent storm snow.

only a few blow-in and buried crowns noted in expected paths, and better than expected observed stability

Pit dug below natural avalanche that hit the road yesterday. I estimated that the avalanche broke below the crust at 40 cm. It may be a rime crust. Overall the snowpack was very warm and seemed damp. Temperature profile shows warm snow. It seems reasonably stable because it is so warm and damp.

Ton of new snow, upside down, very difficult trail breaking, triggered a few very large whumpfs in low angle terrain.

Small intermittent shrubs at base of pit breaking up basal facet layer. No rain here. 50 - 75 cm layer may have been weak layer for yesterday's avalanches at higher elevations. Lacking a slab here, no wind load, not enough new snow.

Probably rained on 18 cm to 30 cm layer before it switched to snow. Also thinking pack was out of inversion at times, with warm air temperatures. Temp estimated.

Large HS avalanche, triggered by snowmobilers