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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 years ago.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

Heads up... avalanche danger will continue rising today through Friday

For today-

In the wind zone at and above treeline, a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger is found and human triggered avalanches are LIKELY on steep, wind drifted slopes, especially those with an easterly component to its aspect. While more the exception than the rule, avalanches breaking into deeper, buried weak layers remains a distinct possibility. Usual suspects include- steep, rocky, upper elevation terrain, especially slopes exhibiting a thin, shallow snowpack. Remember- any slide that breaks to old snow, immediately ruins your day.

Continued strong winds will drift snow onto mid elevation terrain where a MODERATE avalanche danger exists and human triggered avalanches are POSSIBLE on steep wind drifted slopes.

Lose the wind and you lose most of the hazard.

Wind sheltered, low and mid elevation slopes with no steep terrain above or adjacent to where you're riding offers LOW avalanche danger and human triggered avalanches are UNLIKELY.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2

    It's been a good run, but the days of predictably manageable avalanche conditions are beginning to wane... and here's why. Nuking winds, coupled with dense, heavy snow will create upside-down layering with stronger snow resting on top of lighter density snow and of course, that's always a dangerous combination in our mountains. In addition to tricky, trap door riding conditions, I suspect today's fresh drifts will break deeper and wider than you might expect. The best rule of thumb is to simply avoid steep wind drifted slopes, especially if they look fat and rounded or feel hollow and sound like a drum.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    3

    Right now, most terrain offers a deep snowpack and it's happy in its own skin. However, a solid looking series of storms is on tap and that will test the strength of any weak layers in our pack.

    As the storm develops I think about suspect terrain I want to avoid and that includes steep, rocky terrain and slopes that avalanched near the ground earlier in the season.

Avalanche Warning

IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM MST THURSDAY TO 6 AM MST SATURDAY

FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN UTAH INCLUDING THE WASATCH RANGE...BEAR RIVER RANGE...UINTA MOUNTAINS

THE AVALANCHE DANGER WILL BECOME HIGH ON MANY SLOPES AT DIFFERENT ELEVATIONS AND ASPECTS.

HEAVY DENSE SNOW AND WINDS UP TO 100 MPH HAVE CREATED CREATED WIDESPREAD AREAS OF UNSTABLE SNOW. BOTH HUMAN TRIGGERED AND NATURAL AVALANCHES ARE LIKELY. STAY OFF OF AND OUT FROM UNDER SLOPES STEEPER THAN 30 DEGREES.

Special Announcement

Save the date... and take a date. Please join me next week for a coffee and a snowpack update. It'll be informative, enlightening, and quite possibly entertaining :)

Recent Activity

No significant avalanche activity to report.

To view additional trip reports and recent avalanche activity, simply click here.

Snow and Weather

Currently-

The first in a series of storms rolled through the region last night and it focused mostly on the north end of the range, delivering 6" of medium density snow. From about Soapstone southward, totals are half that amount. Westerly winds however aren't discriminating, they're blowing 30-50 mph along the high ridges. Temperatures warmed nearly 10 degrees overnight, currently registering in the mid teens. A fresh coat of white paint will add a bit of stoke whilst greatly improving riding and turning conditions.

Uinta weather network info is found here. Simply click on the Western Uinta tab.

For today-

Westerly winds crank, blowing in the 40's with gusts in the 60's and 70's along the high ridges. Snow continues stacking up throughout the day with an additional 6"-9" expected and temperatures warm into the upper 20's.

Futurecast-

Above... our good friend and lead hydrologist from the NWS delivers a time frame for the upcoming storm.

Additional Info

Thanks to the generous support of our Utah ski resorts and Ski Utah, we have discount lift tickets available. All proceeds support the UAC. Get your tickets HERE.

Get one of these cool t-shirts to support the UAC and other avalanche centers across the U.S. INFO

General Announcements

The information in this forecast expires in 24 hours, but will be updated by 7:00 AM Friday Feb. 7th.

This forecast is updated daily by 7:00 AM.

In the mean-time, if you see or trigger an avalanche or just wanna let me know what you're seeing you can reach me directly at 801-231-2170

This is a great time of year to schedule one of our free avy awareness presentations.

You can email me directly [email protected]

The information in this forecast is from the US Forest Service which is solely responsible for its content.

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