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Avalanche — La Sal & Abajo Mountains, Utah

March 3, 2012 · NOAA Storm Events record

Direct deaths
1
Direct injuries
0
Property damage
—
Area
La Sal & Abajo Mountains

Event narrative (NOAA)

A group of four snowmobile riders were heading into the Beaver Basin area and noticed the snow pack becoming increasingly unstable by the late morning hours. The group found a turn-around point in a nearby meadow which was in the avalanche zone. The last rider heading to the meadow turn-around point was caught by a massive avalanche which released higher up on the mountain. The victim and his snowmobile were buried under about twelve feet of snow, and were not able to be extricated until the next day. The top of the avalanche path was near the 11,200 foot level and traveled down about 1250 vertical feet with a path width of up to 800 feet.

Other notable avalanche events in Utah

Wasatch Mountains South Of I-80 · February 6, 20214 killedW Summit T Nw/Se Salt Lake/Wasatch X Sc/E Utah/P X E Juab/X Nw San Pete · December 26, 20033 killedSanpete/Sevier Valleys · January 2, 19992 killedW Summit T Nw/Se Salt Lake/Wasatch X Sc/E Utah/P X E Juab/X Nw San Pete · January 11, 20002 killedWestern Unita Mountains · March 10, 20012 killedP Nc Weber/P C Morgan/P W C Summit/P Sc Wasatch · April 28, 20012 killed

Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.

Avalanche — La Sal & Abajo Mountains, Utah, March 3, 2012 | DisasterAtlasUSA