Uintas

The avalanche danger is generally LOW. Both human triggered and natural avalanches are unlikely. Remember though, LOW danger doesn't mean NO danger... it's a mountain environment after-all, so be aware of changing conditions and cognizant of your terrain choices.

Occurring naturally, a piece of cornice peeled off this ridgeline in upper Weber Canyon sometime late Sunday afternoon. The bus sized piece of snow crashed onto the slope below, triggering a shallow wet slab which gouged into weak snow near the ground. Of note... a repeater, the snowpack was already shallow in this zone from an avalanche triggered earlier this year.

Recent trip reports and avy activity found HERE.

Skies remained clear last night and temperatures similar to yesterday at this time, registering in the teens and low 20's. Winds switched to the east and southeast around 10:00 last night, but are hardly noticeable, blowing just 10-20 mph along the high ridges. Sunny slopes are crusted and a bit rugged first thing out of the gates. So throw the scratchers down, hang onto your topknot, and with a little out-of-the-box thinking, you'll be rewarded with soft settled snow on high elevation, wind sheltered north facing terrain.

Above is hourly data from Trial Lake (9,945') and Windy Peak (10,662'). To view more regional weather stations click here.

You came for the views... but you should really stay for the snow. Ted was near Bald Mountain Pass yesterday and commented.... "Been awhile since Bald Mt. has been white top to bottom and it looks great! There was quality riding and turning today on the north side of the peak with dense settled powder. " More on Ted's travels found here.

My partner for the day, world renowned mountaineer and overall B.A., Jeff Duenwald stands by a probe buried in a deep Uinta snowpack registering 205 cm. of total snow. Yup... it's a go-anywhere-base and the Uinta's are about as fat, white, and stable as they get.

Dang... the storm dives south. But fear not.... our turn(s) is coming. Look for increasing clouds today, temperatures rising into the 40's, and southeast winds bumping into the 30's along the high ridges. The storm affects southern and central Utah today, though we should get in on the action late tonight and tomorrow. Hit or miss storminess continues Thursday and tapers off Friday afternoon, though snow accumulations are gonna be on the light side. A second storm system affects the region this weekend.

The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted, but will be updated by 7:00 AM Thursday March 21st, 2019.

If you're getting out and about, please let me know what you're seeing especially if you see or trigger and avalanche. I can be reached at [email protected] or 801-231-2170

It's also a good time to set up one of our very popular avalanche awareness classes. Reach out to me and I'll make it happen.

This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.