Although we just saw strong winds in the valleys the Skyline received the same plus several inches of snow.  Castle Country Radio was able to speak over the telephone with the Utah Avalanche Center’s Brett Kobernik about the latest conditions taking place out in the backcountry.

“That wind was really the headline for this week. We did pick up about an average of about 10 inches of new snow across the Skyline. But that wind was the thing, it was just blowing that snow and drifting it all over place,” stated Kobernik. The wind will move snow from one place to another forming snow drifts pretty rapidly which means those drifts can be very sensitive as they are forming.

It was reported that there were triggered avalanches up on the Skyline, thankfully no one was hurt in either incident as Kobernik explains, “We’ve had two storms that were kind of similar. One last week, and there were a handful of snowmobile triggered avalanches following that storm. So, conditions were some what sensitive still after that last storm. Now this previous storm that just moved through, the wind was much stronger but I don’t see that the snow is quite as unstable as it was compared to last week’s event.”

There is another storm in the forecast on Saturday and what does that mean for the Skyline. “The pattern that we’re in kind of right now is that the danger increases during the storms, and starts to decrease pretty dramatically after that storm has passed. We’re kind of sliding in to that Spring time regimen of danger during the storms and then settling out and becoming less dangerous fairly rapidly after the storms,” said Kobernik. The conditions are manageable and perfect for outdoor enthusiasts to get outdoors.

The first thing you should do before heading out to the mountains is to know what the conditions are going to be like. “Check that Daily Avalanche Forecast before heading out https://utahavalanchecenter.org/ it will give you an overall danger rating for the day and explain what kind of conditions we’re dealing with so you got some ammunition before you head out in to the backcountry,” stated Kobernik. This is your best resource to keep yourself safe out in the mountains.