After deadly slides, avalanche danger still remains high

SALT LAKE CITY — The avalanche danger in northern Utah isn’t going away anytime soon, says KSL Meteorologist Kristen Van Dyke who said there is the potential for avalanches all along the Wasatch Front and Uinta Mountains where a group of snowmobilers survived an avalanche near Oakley in Summit County and was caught on camera by a snowmobiler who was in the area with friends.

Four skiers were killed Saturday by an avalanche in Millcreek Canyon. Four survivors, men ranging in age from 23 to 38, were airlifted off of the mountain by medical helicopters and crews, according to the the Unified Police Department as reported by KSL NewsRadio.

Long-time Park City resident Kurt Damschroder, 57, died Jan. 30 in an avalanche outside of Canyons Village at Park City, according to Deseret News.

Van Dyke said conditions are set in place to see more avalanches up to 5 feet deep and several hundred feet wide. Van Dyke said high avalanche danger exists between the Wasatch Mountains north to Logan.

Van Dyke said the weak base layer of snow could continue to cause problems throughout the rest of winter.

She added more snowfall developing this week could add to already-present danger.

Look for snow on Friday morning, then more snow is possible during the weekend, said KSL Meteorologist Grant Weyman. See the forecast here.

He said much of the snowpack in Utah is below 50% of average.

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