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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 years ago.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

In general the avalanche danger is LOW and there's lots of terrain you can ride safely today and not trigger a slide. However, 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.

Here's the outlier- while becoming harder to initiate, human triggered avalanches breaking into deeper, buried weak layers remains a distinct possibility, particularly on any steep slope harboring old snow near the ground. Remember- any 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

    With a bump in winds overnight and a little fresh snow to work with, today I think we'll find pockets of wind drifted snow sensitive to our additional weight. Found mostlyalong the leeward side of upper elevation ridges and cross-loaded around terrain features like chutes and gullies, for the most part these fresh slabs should be manageable... predictably breaking at or below our skis, board, or sled. However, the Uinta's are a big place and there's plenty of terrain features for deeper 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 the past few storms with a little bit of wind isn't going to do 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. However- "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 or outlying terrain with a thin, weak 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

Bruce and I wanna wish y'all a Merry Christmas... baby!

Yesterday's little storm delivered 3" of medium density snow across the range and this morning, another weak storm should provide ample moisture for a few more inches today. Currently, under mostly cloudy skies temperatures are in the teens and low 20's. Southeasterly winds bumped up slightly right after midnight and are blowing 20-25 mph along the high peaks. 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 30's. Winds will be variable, blowing in the mid 20's to low 30's along the ridges. Overnight low dips into the teens. Another weak storm slides through the region late tonight.

General Announcements

The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted, but will be updated by 7:00 AM Wednesday December 26th, 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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