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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago.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

Highlights

At and above treeline, MODERATE avalanche danger exists and human-triggered, wind-drifted avalanches are POSSIBLE breaking 1-2' deep in steep, wind-loaded, leeward terrain. Due to the lack of overall snow, any avalanche triggered today could turn into a nasty ride raking you through consequences of terrain like rocks, stumps, and trees.

I am keeping a keen eye on how rapidly things heat up today and for any red flags suggesting that the snowpack is getting angsty -- Don't be afraid to change objectives or get out of harms way all together.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    On a eastern test-slope at 9,800' small wind-drifted avalanches were triggered under the additional weight of my rig and I yesterday. I would expect this problem to be a bit larger and challenging to deal with as you gain elevation and get up into the alpine.

    Over the past few days strong winds from the west and a healthy deposit of storm snow colluded to load leeward slopes facing northwest through southeast. Sitting atop less-dense storm snow in many places today's wind-drifts will be 1-2' deep, and pockety in nature. Yesterday, small drifts were reactive, yet stubborn, to ski and sled cuts while stomping around on test slopes. And don't forget about fresh cornices that have built up over the past week, they will be reactive today and if they fail, have the potential to trigger a larger slide than we might expect.

    When traveling, I am looking for and avoiding rounded pillows and textured surfaces off of ridgelines and on specific terrain features like cut-banks, gullies and mid-slope rollovers where these drifts will live.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    As the heat ramps up today and the pack receives it's first doss of sunshine and warm temperatures, expect the recent storm snow to take it on and become more sensitive to the elements, as well as our additional weight as a rider. Pay attention to how rapidly things heat up today, and if you are seeing roller balls or the snow surface is becoming wet, its time to change objectives by switching aspect and elevation, or just simply get out of harms way and avoiding significant avalanche terrain.

    Today is a timing bit -- Get into the hills while the snow quality is on point and the snow surface stays cool, and get out before things turn to mush and start coming unglued. Off SR-35, roadside cornices were peeling off as the sun-popped out for a couple hours. Corni grew large and sensitive over the past few days with strong winds and new snow -- Expect them to be peeling off naturally today as well as reactive to our additional weight.

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Recent Activity

Small natural and human-triggered avalanches were observed across the range, yesterday. These avalanches failed within wind-drifted snow and were between 1-2' deep and stubborn in nature.

View All Avalanches & Observations Here

Snow and Weather

Nowcast - A chilly morning kicks off the weekend and temperatures are pretty similar across the board top to bottom, hovering in the mid-teens(°F). Winds ramped down yesterday and currently blow lightly from the northwest averaging 10-15 MPH with clear skies overhead.

Forecast - Expect sunshine and blue skies through the weekend with warm temperatures and mild wind. For today, we have a a high near 35°F and light winds blowing from the north, with moderate gusts into the 20's above treeline.

Futurecast - A warm-up is on tap, and temperatures return to 10-15°F above average by early next week. We are back in the ring with high-pressure for a couple days until a cooler, unsettled pattern makes its way into the range later next week.

Travel Conditions - The best riding exists out of the windzone in mid to upper elevation polar terrain where smooth, settled snow matched with moderate slope angles are the ticket. On the sunnies and lower elevation slopes, things are once again becoming patchy and bare, and don't offer much opportunity to get after it. No matter where you head across the range, beware of the melt off from the past month that revealed lots of rocks, stumps and hazards now buried under 1-2' of snow waiting for some love and contact from our A-arms to roll along.The riding got good above 9,500' on the east half of the compass with lots of body and enough of a buffer to trench the track on edge, providing some surfy and responsive riding conditions.

General Announcements

We are always looking for snow and avalanche observations or just general riding conditions -- Reach out to us with questions, concerns, or if you see anything in your travels!

Andrew Nassetta | [email protected] | 860-460-8142

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 variations always occur. This forecast was issued on Saturday April 04 at 06:30 and expires 24 hours after it was issued. We'll update this information by about 7:00 AM tomorrow.

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