Avalanche in Wasatch Mountains South of I-80, Utah

Just following noon two children and their father entered a backcountry area by leaving the Brighton Ski area boundary west of the Crest lift. One of the children, an 11 year old female ahead of her other family members, traversed into the backcountry along an apron above Rock Garden towards the Mary Main bowl at which time bystanders on the ridge reported that an avalanche released above her. She was reported to have been caught and carried over 200 feet, becoming buried just downhill of a tree. Bystanders quickly called Brighton Ski Patrol and 911. The family did not have avalanche rescue equipment, and attempted to use phone location to narrow the burial location. With the aid of a ski dog, Brighton Ski Patrol located the girl roughly 17 minutes after initial burial. Rescuers performed CPR, but poor weather conditions prevented helicopter transport from landing. She was transported by ambulance for emergency care, but succumbed to her injuries.

A strong and moist trough pushed inland during the middle portion of February, leading to several days of impactful weather. Strong southwesterly flow on the leading edge of the trough resulted in many instances of strong winds and gusts, and moisture was sufficient to begin producing mountain snow more or less throughout the state. The deep nature of the trough then contained sufficient cold air to drop snow levels following a cold frontal passage, bringing snow to many valley floors, areas of scattered snow squalls, and a period of intense snowfall rates to some of the northern mountains. The snowfall resulted in numerous vehicle accidents, road and canyon closures, and avalanches (of which a fatality was reported).