SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Avalanche Center reports high avalanche danger in nearly all of Utah's mountain ranges Monday.
"Avalanche warning remains for most of the state. Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist. The avalanche danger is HIGH and may rise to EXTREME as the storm intensifies. Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely over the next several days. Stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30 degrees," UAC wrote in an Instagram post.
According to UAC, 18 avalanches occurred in Utah on Saturday and Sunday.
All terrain north of Little Cottonwood Creek from Gate B through Cardiff backcountry closed. Please stay EAST of Cardiff Bowl and areas underneath Cardiff. Extends 1,000m into Big Cottonwood Canyon.
— UDOT Avalanche (@UDOTavy) February 15, 2021
2/15/21-11:00am - 2/15/21-5:00pm pic.twitter.com/uN7HmHmd5L
UAC tracks avalanche conditions in the Logan Area Mountains, the Ogden Area Mountains, the Uintas Area Mountains, the Salt Lake Area Mountains, the Provo Area Mountains, the Skyline Area Mountains, the Southwest Area Mountains, the Moab Area Mountains and the Abajos Area Mountain.
Avalanche danger is "considerable" the Moab and Abajos Area Mountains, and it's "high" everywhere else.
Avalanche conditions have been dangerous in other parts of the United States too.
"The first week of February was among the deadliest we've seen in the United States in many, many years. We just want people to come home to their families at the end of the day," said the Utah Avalanche Center's Drew Hardesty.
Six people have been killed in avalanches in Utah this season.
According to UAC, avalanche victims are almost exclusively backcountry recreationists: including snowmobilers, climbers, snowboarders, snowshoers, skiers and hikers.
Of those, snowmobilers are twice as likely to be killed in avalanches as any of the other recreationists listed.
Visit the Utah Avalanche Center's websitefor further details on avalanche conditions and safety.
