Center warns of avalanche danger
December 30th, 2009 @ 8:26pm
SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Avalanche Center is warning about dangerous conditions in northern portions of the state.
Officials say heavy snowfall and wind will overload a fragile and weak snowpack to create hazardous conditions in the coming days. The center says those without expert avalanche training and skills should avoid traveling in mountainous backcountry areas.
Evelyn Lees, with the Utah Avalanche Center, says the conditions won't get better any time soon.
"The ongoing snow and winds are overloading an unusually fragile, weak snowpack," she says.
The center says the Wasatch Front and the western Uintas have considerable danger, which means natural avalanches are possible and human-triggered slides are likely. The Logan area rating is high.
But according to Lees, gullies, creek bottoms, steep road cuts and such can also have bad avalanches. She suggests people head out with the right equipment and education.
Click here to see the avalanche center's risk map for today.
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Story compiled with contributions from Mary Richards and The Associated Press.