Beaver Mountain is closed to uphill traffic and all public use for set-up until opening day tomorrow.
It's 11°F at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel this morning, and there is 2 inches of light new snow. I'm reading 52 inches of total snow at the site, which picked up 4.2" of SWE in last week's productive storm. It's 4°F at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and northwesterly winds are blowing about 20 mph.
Looking at the crown of a recent natural avalanche in Miller Bowl, East (from Saturday) on a north facing slope at 8700'. The avalanche failed on a persistent weak layer near the ground.
Expect partly sunny conditions in the mountains today, with 8500' high temperatures around 13°F, 8 to 10 mph northwest winds, and wind chills around -8°F. It will be mostly clear tonight with low temperatures around 1°F, 7 to 9 mph west-northwest winds, and wind chills around -12°F. It will be sunny on Tuesday, with high temperatures around 18°F, 5 to 7 mph west winds, and wind chills around -9°F. Looks like a ridge of high pressure will settle in over the area for the next few days, with sun in the mountains and developing haze in the valleys. Heightened avalanche conditions exist on drifted upper and mid elevation slopes, with dangerous and destructive avalanches failing on a persistent weak layer possible on northerly facing upper elevation slopes.
I'm sorry to report Utah's first avalanche fatality this season. A 45 year old male snowboarder left the Canyons Village of Park City via the backcountry exit gate at the top of the 9990' lift to access Dutch Draw. Part of the way down the slope, he triggered and was caught, carried, and killed in an avalanche.
Preliminary Accident Report Utah Avalanche Center Staff and Park City and Canyons resort avalanche professionals will investigate the scene Monday morning.
Natural activity from Saturday became apparent with clearing yesterday. Fairly widespread new snow and wind slab avalanches occurred across the zone and and we could see several large hard slabs releasing on sugary faceted October snow on high north and northeast facing slopes. Generally 3 to 4' deep and a few hundred feet wide, including Miller Bowl, East (above Tony Grove Lake) which took down some trees and ran to the flats. Recent large natural avalanches that failed on the Halloween persistent weak layer were also observed on Providence Peak, Naomi Peak, and Cornice Ridge.
Natural avalanche in "the Nose" on Cornice Ridge.
A large natural avalanche on the north face of Providence Peak.
