Avalanche forecast

Skyline

Issued Jan 5, 2022valid to Jan 6, 2022Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago.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

Highlights

The avalanche danger remains CONSIDERABLE on mid and upper elevation northwest, north and northeast, and east facing slopes. Large human triggered avalanches are likely.

Continue to avoid steep slopes on the north half of the compass until we are sure that the snowpack is stable.

Avalanche problems

Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Likely
Size
4
The snowpack situation remains mostly the same. The snowpack is slowly adjusting to all the December snow which is quite strong. The weak snow from October near the ground has gained some strength but is still suspect. "Hand hardness" of this layer has increased a bit. Snowpit tests are stubborn but the weak layer is still shearing clean with full propagation. Below is a summary of the progression of our snowpack.

There was a foot or more of snow that fell in October.

This snow melted away on many slopes but it stayed on northwest, north and northeast facing slopes above about 8500'.

The snow that stayed turned into a weak sugary layer during dry weather in November.

We saw a large amount of snow in December which landed on top of the weak snow from October.

The weak layer of sugary faceted snow collapsed and produced avalanches under the stress of the large storms.

The weak layer is still present. We are monitoring it and are hopeful it will become more stable with time.

Snow and Weather

Current Conditions

Riding conditions remain excellent in many locations. Exposed terrain has been hit by fairly strong wind over the last 48 hours. We found southerly facing slopes to still be holding good snow on Tuesday. Temperatures are in the mid 20s and the wind is still pretty strong along the more exposed ridges.

Mountain Weather

A storm is moving through northern Utah but unfortunately, we are on the southern fringe of it and I think we're going to get missed by the majority of the snow. Expect snowfall today with temperatures in the mid 20s and fairly strong ridgetop west northwest wind. I'm only anticipating 2 to 6 inches of snow. The northern end of the range may get more snow than the southern end.