Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist in the backcountry, and people should continue to avoid travel in avalanche terrain.
The danger is HIGH at mid and upper elevations on slopes facing the north half of the compass, where dangerous avalanches failing on a buried persistent weak layer near the ground are likely. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist on drifted slopes at all elevations, and people are likely to trigger avalanches of wind drifted snow in steep terrain. Loose new snow and small soft storm slab avalanches are possible on any steep slope with significant accumulations of new snow.
New snow may produce loose snow or soft slab avalanches in steep terrain at all elevations today. Be careful of trees or other terrain traps below you if you venture onto a steep slope with significant accumulations of new snow.
Winds blowing from the south, southwest, and west have been transporting tremendous amounts of snow during the last several days. Yesterday the winds dropped down into the terrain, and we observed significant drifting at all elevations.
Avoid drifted slopes at all elevations where avalanches are likely to occur.
Dangerous deep slab avalanches breaking on a persistent weak layer near the ground are likely today. This layer of weak, sugary facets can be found in north facing terrain 6-12 inches above the ground just above a hard ice crust that caps old snow from October and early November. Avalanches failing on this layer will likely be 3 to 5 feet deep and may break hundreds of feet across. Avalanches could be triggered remotely from a distance, or worse, from below.
THE AVALANCHE DANGER IS HIGH WITH DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS.
AN AVALANCHE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF MUCH OF THE STATE OF UTAH, INCLUDING THE WASATCH RANGE...BEAR RIVER RANGE...UINTA MOUNTAINS...AND THE MANTI-SKYLINE.
HEAVY DENSE SNOWFALL AND STRONG WINDS HAVE CREATED DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS. BOTH HUMAN TRIGGERED AND NATURAL AVALANCHES ARE LIKELY. STAY OFF OF AND OUT FROM UNDER SLOPES STEEPER THAN 30 DEGREES.
Avalanche conditions are very dangerous in the backcountry, and we are worried about an accident happening this week. When we look at accidents, this winter's weather pattern matches what we see time and time again. Early season snow (October & early November) followed by a dry period (November and first week of December) that weakens the snowpack followed by a stormy period that builds a slab and adds stress to the weak layers underneath.
An observer reports viewing a recent natural avalanche near Wilderness Peak up in Franklin Basin, and I could see evidence of some recent natural activity in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness. No other avalanches were reported yesterday, but that doesn't mean there weren't any. Clouds and snowfall have made it hard to see many suspect slide paths for the last several days.
Check HERE for all the latest observations and avalanche activity.
Yesterday, 8 additional inches of snow accumulated at the 8400' Tony Grove Lake Snotel, and the station reports 4.8" of SWE since Thursday morning (12-23-2021). After drifting snow at all elevations yesterday, southwest wind eased overnight, and this morning it's blowing from the west around 25 mph with gusts around 40 mph at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station. I'm reading 3°F at Tony Grove and -5°F at Logan Peak this morning.
Expect diminishing snowfall, moderate west winds, and very cold temperatures in the mountains today, with steady temperatures around 4°F at 8500', 16 to 22 mph west winds on the ridges and wind chill values around -19°F!.
Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist in the backcountry and large avalanches are likely. People should continue to avoid travel in avalanche terrain and stay off and out from under steep slopes including obvious or historic avalanche paths.
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This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. 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.
