Avalanche forecast

Uintas

Utah Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Limited to a small percentage of the terrain available to ride in today, at and above treeline you'll find MODERATE avalanche danger. Human triggered DRY SNOW avalanches are POSSIBLE, especially on steep leeward slopes facing the north half of the compass.

In addition, as temperatures soar the danger of WET SNOW avalanches will rapidly rise to MODERATE and human triggered avalanches become POSSIBLE on all steep, snow covered slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Sun's out.... gun's out, and it doesn't take much provocation to get a wet sluff to move slowly downhill. The problem is- when all that wet, cement-like snow piles up deeply in a terrain trap like a gully or a road cut. But this is a totally manageable avalanche problem, though we need to stay ahead of the curve. If the snow you're riding gets wet and manky, or if it feels punchy or like a trap door under your skis, board, or sled... simply get off of and out from under steep terrain.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    While I think most of our new snow instabilities settled out overnight, if you're getting into steep, upper elevation terrain today, you may still encounter dry snow avalanche problems. While small in scope and limited to steep, upper elevation, leeward slopes in the wind zone, I bet there's still a wind drift or two lurking out there that'll react to our additional weight. So today you'll want to continue looking for and avoiding any fat, rounded piece of snow, especially if it sounds hollow like a drum. Easier yet... lose some elevation and you'll lose the problem.

    And finally don't forget-

    Cornices are ginormous and may break back further than you might expect. You definitely wanna give these large, unpredictable pieces of snow a wide berth and not ruin someones day below by inadvertently knocking a boxcar size piece of snow down on them.

Special Announcement

Utah has a rich history of avalanches. From the earlier mining days of Alta to the start of avalanche research and snow science in the US in Little Cottonwood Canyon in 1939. Snowpack and weather data has been collected from the Alta Guard Station every year since making it the longest snow plot history in the US. These roots made the UAC an early leader in avalanche education and forecasting.

Check out this video about where it all began.

Recent Activity

Once the sun came out yesterday, avalanche activity instantly spiked and human triggered slides were easily initiated. Breaking within the new storm snow, yesterday's avalanches averaged about a foot in depth, but ran a little further than you might expect.

Recent trip reports and avy activity found HERE.

Snow and Weather

The weekend storm is moving on and visiting our neighbors to the east, and in its wake, skies are clear and temperatures register in the teens and low 20's. Winds are hardly noticeable, blowing less than 15 mph even along the high peaks. This mornings snow surface offers crusts of varying thickness, as most low and mid elevation terrain took on some heat yesterday. However, with a little effort you'll still find soft creamy snow on upper elevation north facing slopes.

Above is hourly data from Trial Lake (9,945')

And Windy Peak (10,662')

To view more regional weather stations click here.

Our main man Ted Scroggin was near Gold Hill Friday and notes... "It was back to winter conditions with a nice foot and a half of new snow in the Gold Hill area. The snow throughout the day fell straight down with little wind, unless you were up along the ridge lines. A great sleeper of a storm. The new snow improved the riding conditions and it was best to stay on lower angle slopes where the old tracks and crusts were less of an issue." More on Ted's travels and insights are found here.

Additional Info

It'll be a stunning day in the mountains with mostly sunny skies, light winds, and temperatures rising into the mid 30's. The break in the action is short-lived and we should see high clouds roll into the region late Monday with another storm slated for midweek.

General Announcements

The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted, but will be updated by 7:00 AM Monday April 1st, 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.

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