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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The walls aren't caving in, but a quick hitting storm begins tipping the scales-

CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger is found on shady, wind drifted slopes in mid and upper elevation terrain, especially in the wind zone above treeline. As today's storm gets going, human triggered avalanches become LIKELY, particularly on steep slopes facing the north half of the compass. Note to self... any slide triggered today has the potential to break deeper and wider than we might expect, delivering a massive curve ball to my day.

Lower elevation shady slopes get in on the act and I expect the avy danger rises to MODERATE with human triggered avalanches POSSIBLE on steep, wind drifted slopes by late in the day.

Days of southerly winds nuked the solars and torched the snow, so we're back to low tide and exposed reef in a sea of green, generally LOW avy hazard

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2

    A 24 hour wind run from Lofty Peak (11,186') clearly illustrates yet another wind loading event... lucky us!

    Wednesday's storm snow, coupled with 24 hours of nuking wind, conspires to whip up yet another batch of wind drifts that'll be reactive to our additional weight. Here's where it gets tricky... wind hardened drifts are gonna feel strong and bomber underneath or skis, board, or sled, but I wouldn't let my guard down. My plan is to lose the wind and lose the problem. I'm avoiding fat rounded pillows of snow, especially if they sound hollow like a drum.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    3

    A one-two punch of strong winds and a couple inches of snow begins tipping the scales on steep, shady slopes, especially those with a shallow snowpack... think mid and low elevation, polar terrain and slopes that avalanched earlier this season. In fact, recent avalanches suggest two layers of faceted snow are beginning the reveal their hand... one developed during the mid January cold, dry spell and the other during the mid December drought. In either case, while we might've forgotten about 'em, the snowpack has an amazing memory. Any slide triggered today has the potential to break deeper and wider than we might expect, delivering a body-bruising slide we might not walk away from.

Recent Activity

I'm still not trusting our current snowpack structure, especially in steep rocky terrain or slopes that avalanched earlier this season like the Dec. 29th (before) and Feb. 6th (after) images above.

Look for this years slides cataloged here. As always, gain more intel and info via obs, avalanches and trip reports from across the range and beyond, here!

Special Announcement

Wondering who hijacked our winter, where weak layers in the snowpack are trending, or perhaps you're just PWL curious? Well then, please join UAC Forecaster Craig Gordon (that's me :) at Ecker Hill Middle School, Tuesday February 11th from 6:30-8:00 PM for a State of the Snowpack presentation hosted by Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA). Guaranteed to be informative, educational, and perhaps even entertaining!

Sad news to report from the Monte Cristo area where a snowmobiler was caught, carried, and killed in an avalanche Monday. An accident summary is found here. Please know our hearts hurt and our collective energy goes out to friends, family, and everyone involved in this very tragic accident.

Snow and Weather

Nowcast- South and southwest winds nuke into the 50's and 60's near the high peaks, ushering in high clouds, and the warm before the storm. Currently, temperatures hover near freezing at the trailheads and register in the mid 20's along the ridges. Riding and turning conditions have taken a hard hit, but swaths of shallow powder are found on low angle, mid elevation, wind sheltered slopes.

Forecast - A rough, rowdy, and rather robust, albeit short-lived storm, harnesses the use of alliteration, taps into its inner Beowulf and sets its sights on the Uinta zone late this afternoon. Expect increasing clouds, continued strong southwesterly winds and light snow showers this morning, becoming heavier as the day progresses. High temperatures bump into the mid 30's and crash into the teens overnight once cold air blasts through the region.

Futurecast-

Look for a good shot of snow with frontal passage coinciding with the afternoon commute, continuing through tonight, but tapering off rapidly early Saturday morning. I'm cautiously optimistic this storm produces 8"-10" of snow with an inch of water. Cool high pressure with a few weak storms embedded in the flow is on tap for next week.

Ted took a rip towards Elizabeth Pass yesterday and reports... "Pretty classic High Uinta weather day with strong winds blowing across the upper elevations, looks like a Colorado continental snow pack up there."

General Announcements

We are always looking for snow and avalanche observations or just general riding conditions. In the meantime reach out to us with questions, concerns, or if you see anything in your travels! Contact us directly through the info below:

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 always may occur. This forecast was issued on Friday, February 7th at 04:00AM and expires 24 hours after it was issued.

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