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'Considerable' avalanche danger listed in parts of Utah Monday

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SALT LAKE CITY — New snowfall in Utah is resting on a layer of older, firmer snowfall, which could pose avalanche danger for skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers in backcountry areas.

According to the Utah Avalanche Center, avalanche danger is currently "considerable" in mountain areas near Salt Lake and Logan.

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"So we're all super-stoked to see a new round of fresh snow falling out of the sky. The problem is, this has been a very, very dry winter. And what that does is, any snow that we've got in the mountains right now, it's thin, it's shallow, it's weak, it's sugary. The writing's on the wall. We start stacking layers of snow on top of that, we're gonna see dangerous avalanche conditions," said Utah Avalanche Center spokesman Craig Gordon.

Avalanche danger is considered "moderate" for mountains near Ogden, Provo and Moab, and the Uintas, Skyline and Abajo mountains.

Backcountry recreation enthusiasts are urged to carry avalanche safety gear and check avalanche conditions on the Utah Avalanche Center's website.

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