Avalanche forecast

Skyline

Utah Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The overall avalanche danger remains CONSIDERABLE.

Human triggered avalanches are still a very real threat.

Continue to avoid steep terrain on the mid and upper elevation slopes that face west, north and east.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    4

    Weak sugary snow at the base of our snowpack remains a very real threat. There are many red flags that I'm seeing:

    • Recent avalanches
    • Collapsing (whumpfing) of the snowpack
    • Shooting cracks
    • Poor snowpack structure
    • Poor snowpit test results

    I toured around Ephraim and Manti Canyons and found the snowpack to be shallower and much weaker than I anticipated. We are a long way off from having stable conditions. All you can do is avoid the steeper terrain until we see conditions improve.

Special Announcement

MOTORIZED BACKCOUNTRY 101 AVALANCHE CLASS

One evening of online presentations, one full day out in the backcountry with instructors.

You'll learn all the basics of rescue and how to read the snow and make good decisions in avalanche terrain.

Hosted by the Utah Avalanche Center

Feb 2nd and 3rd - MORE DETAILS HERE

Recent Activity

There are two newer avalanches that are noteworthy. The first one was in Logger's Fork of Manti Canyon. It released sometime since about Saturday. It's possible it was natural but more likely that it was triggered remotely by some snowbikers that were passing by. MORE DETAILS

The next one was in Spring Creek south of the kite launch parking lot at the Skyline Summit. This one definitely was not there when I came through on Friday. This one may have been natural but, again, it was more likely triggered by snowmachines. MORE DETAILS The reason that these slides probably did not release naturally is there was no weather event to act as a trigger. Generally you need some wind that drifts snow or some additional new snow to overload a slope and act as a trigger. We haven't had any of this since last Wednesday. Photo: Chris Magerl

Snow and Weather

Current Conditions: Temperatures remained steady in the mid 20s over the last 24 hours. Wind has been slight from the south and southeast. There's quite a bit of dense soft snow around which makes for nice riding conditions. The problem is there are still lots of places where snow machines are punching through into the sugary base. Not so much so around the Fairview/Miller Flat zone where the snowpack is a bit deeper and stronger. The central and southern Skyline remains very shallow and shallow snow is weak snow, hence, you punch through and trench a lot. Mountain Weather: Expect cloudy skies with the chance for light snowfall but no accumulation. Temperatures will be in the mid 20s and we'll have light wind from the south. There might be a partial break in the clouds Wednesday then another round of light snow on Thursday that might produce an inch or two. It looks like the weather clears up for the weekend.

Additional Info

SKYLINE AVALANCHES & OBSERVATIONS

CAMERAS & WEATHER STATIONS

INSTAGRAM: SKYLINE_AVALANCHE

FACEBOOK: SKYLINE AVALANCHE

FORECAST EMAIL

PREVIOUS FORECASTS

Education:

General Announcements

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.

Regions covered