Uintas

Odds of triggering a deep, dangerous avalanche have decreased... consequences remain serious-

Today, you'll find MODERATE avalanche danger on all steep, upper elevation, shady slopes. The danger is most pronounced in terrain facing the north half of the compass, particularly on slopes with an easterly component to their aspect, in the wind zone at and above treeline. Human triggered avalanches breaking to weak, sugary, midpack snow are POSSIBLE.

Looking for the Clif-notes, fast-track version to LOW avalanche danger? Mid and low elevation wind sheltered terrain and slopes facing the south half of the compass with no overhead hazard (meaning, no steep slopes above or adjacent to where I'm traveling) is the hot ticket. I've been finding excellent riding conditions and fun meadow skipping on mellow terrain with these characteristics.

As the end of the year approaches, please consider a donation to the UAC to support avalanche forecasting.

No recent avy activity since Tyler St. Jeor found this slide Sunday in Roundy Basin, just above the groomed trail on his way to Currant Creek.

From the North Slope to the south half of the range and points in between, recent human triggered avalanches display similar characteristics, revealing a failure in the midpack weakness which leads to avalanches gouging to the ground.

Recent avy activity and a slew of Uinta obs areHERE.

Nowcast- It's only fitting that an Arctic Airmass slides through the region on Winter Solstice, bringing a shot of snow later today along with very cold air. In the meantime, temperatures register in the low and mid teens and west-southwest winds blow 25-35 mph along the ridges. Riding and turning conditions are most excellent, though recent winds are gonna work the big open bowls. But don't let your heart be troubled... on a solid, go anywhere base, we've got room to roam and you'll find excellent riding conditions, particularly in mid elevation, wind sheltered terrain.

Forecast- Snow develops later this morning and should begin to increase in intensity with 4"-8" by about mid afternoon. West and then northwest winds become unruly as the day wares on, blowing in the 40's and 50's along the high ridges, gusting to 100 mph near the high peaks. The bottom falls out of our comfortable morning temperatures, cratering to -10 degrees overnight.

Futurecast- A few snow showers linger into Thursday morning, but the bigger news are the temperatures which barely claw their way out of the single digits. Northwest winds add insult to injury, bringing windchill factors to -25 degrees.

Lots of excellent trip reports and recent obs are found HERE.

State of the snowpack prezo Thursday Dec. 22nd-

When- Thursday December 22, 2022 Show starts at 6:00

What- Please join Utah Avalanche Center forecaster Craig Gordon (that's me :) as I take a deep dive and reflect on recent close calls along with what’s going on with our current snowpack structure and what's in the store for the future.

Where- Alpha Coffee 7260 Racquet Club Dr, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121

Weather stations-

And... we were super busy this summer upgrading the western Uinta weather station network and this real-time winter info is found HERE (click weather stations, and then on the Western Uinta tab)

Observations-

Your observations are important, so please let me know what you're seeing... click HERE and contribute to this amazing community-based program

Issued at 03:42 on Wednesday December 21st, this forecast expires 24 hours after the date and time posted, but will be updated by 07:00 Thursday December 22nd.

Before it gets too crazy, now is the time to book an avalanche awareness presentation for your group, club, or posse. You can reach Craig directly at 801-231-2170 or [email protected].

This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.