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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago.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

Highlights

Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist near and above treeline in the Uinta Mountains where the avalanche danger is HIGH. Both natural and human-triggered avalanches are likely. Very dense, heavy snow combined with strong winds has overloaded a fragile snowpack. Below treeline, human triggered avalnaches are likely, and the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE.

This storm and these avalanche conditions are very dangerous and very serious. Give yourself a wide safety margin today and avoid avalanche terrain. Go to rolling meadows less than 30 degrees in steepness with no steep terrain above or near them. Fortunately, the Uinta mountains have plenty of safe terrain where you can avoid avalanches.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    3

    Slab avalanches will break on a persistent weak layer of old snow near the ground today.

    • They can be 2-4 feet deep or more in heavily wind loaded areas.
    • They can break hundreds of feet wide
    • You don't have to be on a slope to trigger one of these avalanches.
    • You can trigger them from flat terrain below steep slopes.

    There is plenty of safe terrain in the Uinta Mountains, but the key is to avoid these avalanches is to avoid being under or anywhere near slopes steeper than 30 degrees.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    3

    Winds from the south blew 50-70 mph yesterday afternoon. These winds drifted snow mostly on slopes that have a persistent weak layer of sugary facets near the ground. The problem with these wind slabs is that they will make avalanches breaking on the facets larger, deeper, and more deadly. Avoid any steep slope, and especially avoid any slope with obvious wind drifting where avalanches are very likely to occur.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    On slopes that don't have wind drifted snow and don't have old facets near the ground, the new snow alone may produce soft slab avalanches. Subtle variations in the new snow like density changes can create a temporary weak layer. Fortunately these instabilities can be short lived, but they remain a concern as long as it is snowing.

Avalanche Warning

AN AVALANCHE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF MUCH OF THE STATE OF UTAH, INCLUDING THE WASATCH RANGE...BEAR RIVER RANGE...UINTA MOUNTAINS...THE MANTI-SKYLINE...THE FISH LAKE REGION…PAHVANTS…TUSHARS…AND THE CEDAR CITY AREA MOUNTAINS.

HEAVY DENSE SNOWFALL AND STRONG WINDS WILL LIKELY CREATE VERY DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS. BOTH HUMAN TRIGGERED AND NATURAL AVALANCHES ARE LIKELY. STAY OFF OF AND OUT FROM UNDER SLOPES STEEPER THAN 30 DEGREES.

Special Announcement

Avalanche conditions are very dangerous across most of the State of Utah as discussed by our staff in the video below -

Recent Activity

The snowpack has been giving a clear warning message. I remotely triggered an avalanche above Smith and Morehouse Reservoir yesterday on a slope being loaded by strong winds from the south.

A list of all other observations is found HERE

Observations, trip reports, and avalanches found here.

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Snow and Weather

NOWCAST-

As of 4 a.m. about a foot of VERY dense snow has fallen containing 1.0-1.7 inches of water, and more snow is coming. Temperatures range from the mid 20s to mid teens F. Winds yesterday were blowing 50 mph gusting to 70 mph from the south-soutwest. This morning winds are blowing 25 mph from the west-southwest.

FORECAST-

Snowfall will continue all day. Temperatures should hold steady, and winds may increase some this afternoon and blow 30-40 mph from the west-southwest. By tomorrow morning, the western Uinta Mountains could receive about another foot of snow.

FUTURECAST-

There is a bit of a lull in the snowfall tomorrow, but heavier snowfall should kick in again Sunday morning. Very cold air will descend over the area Sunday afternoon with mountain temperatures in the single digits F.

Looking for real-time temps, snow, or wind?

Click HERE and then on the "western Uinta" tab for western Uinta specific, weather station network.

Additional Info

Your observations are important, so please let me know what you're seeing... click HERE and contribute to this amazing community based program

General Announcements

The information in this forecast expires 24 hours after the day and time posted, but will be updated by 07:00 Friday December 24th.

Before it gets too crazy, now is the time to book an avalanche awareness presentation for your group, club, or posse. You can reach me directly at 801-231-2170 or [email protected]

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.

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