Spring snowstorms, sudden warming pose dangers

Utah can expect a break with dry, springlike conditions starting Wednesday afternoon and continuing into Saturday night, according to Gibson.

With a warm spring sun, Hardesty said, surface snow on sun-exposed slopes melts and percolates underneath, increasing the chance for what he calls a wet avalanche as the base beneath erodes away and weakens.

But there also have been times recently when a heavy amount of snowfall has come within a short period. What can happen then is a density break in the new snow that causes a slide, according to Hardesty.

Fatalities occur, he added, when people do not consult his office's advisories. Call 801-364-1581 or visit the following Web site: www.avalanche.org/~uac.

Those who are new to checking an advisory should be prepared to know words and terms such as crust, bed surface, slab and brief ridging. Advisories also come with a weather report.

So, check the weather and avalanche forecast on a daily basis and practice the "usual combat techniques" if you're in the backcountry. Hardesty said that means skiing with a partner. Each skier should carry an avalanche transceiver (about $100 on e-Bay, according to Hardesty), probe pole and shovel.

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com

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