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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

While most terrain offers LOW avalanche danger, at and above treeline, in the wind zone, the avalanche danger is MODERATE. Human triggered avalanches are possible in steep, wind drifted terrain, especially on slopes facing the north half of the compass and particularly on those with an easterly component to their aspect. In addition, while becoming harder to initiate, human triggered avalanches breaking into deeper, buried weak layers is a distinct possibility, particularly on any steep slope harboring old snow near the ground. Remember- triggering a slide that breaks to old snow will immediately ruin your day.

Lose a little elevation or swing around to slopes with no old snow near the ground and the avalanche danger drops dramatically.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2

    Yesterday, I found a few pockets of wind drifted snow along the leeward side of upper elevation ridges, but to a large degree, the vast majority were unreactive to my additional weight. Not much changed overnight and I think that'll remain the case again today. However, the Uintas are a big place and there's plenty of terrain features for wind drifts to form. As always, be on the lookout for and avoid any fat, rounded piece of snow especially if it sounds hollow like a drum.

    Road cuts and small slopes similar to the kind of terrain you want to ride are great "test slopes".... meaning, if you trigger a small slide the consequences are negligable. While I'm riding, I gather a lot of information by stomping on slopes with these characteristics and see how they react before I decide to get into big, committing terrain.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    3

    Not much has changed on this front and last weeks snow and wind didn't do too much to tip the balance. As a matter of fact, recent snowpit stability tests combined with the lack of avalanche activity suggests the pack feels pretty comfortable in its own skin... and that's good news. Remember- "persistent weak layers" in the snowpack are a headache because they remain problem children for long periods of time. And all we need to do is find one weakness, maybe around a bush or rock that we can't see buried underneath the snow, collapse the pack, and now we're getting worked by a large piece of moving of snow. The usual suspect terrain comes to mind- steep, rocky slopes with a shallow snowpack. So the way I'm avoiding this scenario is by simply avoiding the terrain where this setup exists.... mid and upper elevation, north facing slopes that harbor weak, early season snow near the ground.

    Tyler found weak snow near Iron Mountain. Not a problem now, but could be an issue if we load this structure with a good shot of snow and water weight.

    Steep, rocky, with a thin snowpack... complex terrain like in the image above is the kind of place where you could trigger a slide that breaks to weak snow near the ground.

Recent Activity

No significant avalanche activity to report.

Snow and Weather

A quick hitting storm is on our doorstep this morning and should graze the Uinta zone in the next couple of hours. Not a big system, but enough for a couple inches and a reset. Currently, skies are mostly cloudy and temperatures in the mid to upper teens. Southerly winds are blowing 15-25 mph along the high ridges. Riding and turning conditions are a mixed bag. Upper elevation terrain is wind worked and sunny aspects are scratchy. But mid elevation, wind sheltered slopes are the ticket today, where you'll find soft, shallow creamy pow.

Above is recent hourly data from Upper Moffit Basin (9,126') along with wind data from Windy Peak (10,662'). To view more regional weather stations click here.

Plowing is done on Mirror Lake Highway, but Wolf Creek Pass is still open. The steep slopes surrounding the pass are getting hammered... ridden hard and without incident. However, just 'cause you can see your rig parked near Wolf Creek, doesn't mean the terrain you're choosing to ride is good to go. Remember- if you are getting out and about, be prepared for your own self rescue. Wear and know how to use an avalanche beacon, shovel, and probe.

Additional Info

Today, look for mostly cloudy skies, light snow showers, and temperatures rising into the low 20's. West and southwest winds remain reasonable, blowing in the mid 20's along the ridges. It looks like the next storm dives south of us for Christmas Day, but we might still squeak out a couple of inches of snow before clearing skies are slated for Wednesday.

General Announcements

The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted, but will be updated by 7:00 AM Tuesday December 25th, 2018.

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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