Avalanche forecast

Abajos

Utah Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Most terrain has generally LOW danger.

A MODERATE avalanche danger exists on steep slopes facing NW through E at upper elevations where it still may be possible to trigger an avalanche failing on a buried persistent weak layer. Likely trigger points include thin, rocky areas, slopes with steep convexities, and areas of more extreme terrain.

It's also still very low tide out there. Beware of rocks, stumps, and deadfall lurking beneath the surface.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    A classic setup of strong snow over weak snow has developed on upper elevation, northerly aspects that retained snow from October. This October snow has become loose, weak, and sugary, or as we say, faceted. This faceted snow has formed a persistent weak layer at the base of the snowpack. The odds of triggering an avalanche on this weak layer continue to decrease, but human triggered avalanches up to 2' deep are still possible on steep, northerly facing slopes at upper elevations.

Snow and Weather

Get current and past 24-hour readings from these real-time weather links.

NWS Weather Forecast.

Snow totals and temps at Buckboard Flat (8924')

Snow totals and temps at Camp Jackson (8858')

Dry, northwest flow keeps us under sunny and warm conditions. A weak trough on Tuesday might bring us some clouds. There's still nothing out in the long term to get excited about.

Snowpack

It's been more than two weeks since the mountains received any significant snow and overall coverage remains quite thin. Depths across the range average 2'-3' deep above about 9000'. Northerly facing slopes above about 9500' have held snow since October, and this old snow has formed a weak, sugary, faceted layer at the base of the snowpack. Snow from two storm events in December have formed a dense slab over top of this weak, sugary snow. Human triggered avalanches failing on this persistent weak layer are becoming increasingly unlikely, but they may still be possible on steep, northerly facing slopes.

General Announcements

Who's up for some free avalanche training? Get a refresher, become better prepared for an upcoming avalanche class, or just boost your skills. Go to https://learn.kbyg.org/ and scroll down to Step 2 for a series of interactive online avalanche courses produced by the UAC.

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

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