Avalanche — Great Salt Lake Desert and Mountains, Utah

2023-03-27 · Great Salt Lake Desert and Mountains, Utah

Event narrative

At some time between approximately 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm Monday 3/27, a large avalanche in the Pole Canyon area of the southern Oquirrh Mountains resulted in the full burial of a snowmobiler. A second snowmobiler who was not buried was able to call for emergency services, and search and rescue began soon thereafter for the buried snowmobiler. The buried snowmobiler was equipped with a beacon, and by 8:48 pm the body of the deceased 38-year-old man was recovered under approximately 13.2 feet of snow. The buried avalanche victim had deployed an avalanche airbag, but the airbag was deflated when the victim was found. This large avalanche was reported to have a fracture line 4250 feet wide, traveling a horizontal distance of 1.26 miles (2360 vertical feet downhill).

Wider weather episode

Another winter storm brought accumulating snow, primarily to northern Utah, though limited warning criteria amounts were reported. Additionally, a second avalanche fatality for the month is noted.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1088836. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.