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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago.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

Heads up... pockets of higher avalanche danger are found on the east side of the range where more snow fell on a snowpack which remains weak and fragile.

In upper elevation terrain, especially in the wind zone at and above treeline, you'll find MODERATE avalanche danger on steep wind drifted slopes and HUMAN TRIGGERED AVALANCHES ARE POSSIBLE, particularly on slopes facing the south half of the compass and especially on slopes with a westerly component to its aspect. Steep, rocky terrain facing the north half of the compass remains suspect and while more the exception than the rule, any avalanche that breaks to weak layers of snow near the ground will result in a deep, dangerous avalanche that'll instantly ruin your day.

Lose the wind and you lose the problem-

Mid and low elevation, wind sheltered terrain offers generally LOW avalanche danger. Remember- low avalanche danger doesn't mean no avalanche danger, so please continue practicing your safe travel rituals and make sure you carry and know how to use your avalanche rescue gear.... transceiver, shovel, and probe.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    The image above captures Sunday's winds on Lofty Lake Peak at 11,186'

    Sunday's east and northeast winds cranked along the high ridges, whipping up a fresh batch of wind slabs sensitive to our additional weight. While I think the vast majority settled overnight, there may be a stubborn drift or two that reacts with a little provocation. And due to the strength, duration, and unusual east-northeast direction, drifts formed in odd places and lower downslope than you might expect. Today, you'll want to look for and continue avoiding steep wind drifted slopes facing the south half the compass, particularly slopes with a westerly component to its aspect. Remember, fresh drifts formed on slick sun crusts and todays avalanches may run further and pack a bigger punch than you might expect.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    3

    Micheal Davis and his crew rode near the Mirror Lake Highway and Reids Peak where they found stable snow and a good looking snowpack. Micheal has an excellent ob posted HERE.

    The snowpack is getting comfortable in its own skin and that's good news in terrain where the snowpack is deep.However, snow is a curious medium and all we need to do is find one inconsistency or a shallow zone, maybe around a rock or bush, collapse the pack, and now we've got a bigger slide than we might've bargained for. So my safe travel strategy is to think about suspect terrain I want to continue avoiding and that includes steep, rocky terrain and slopes that avalanched near the ground earlier in the season. And here's something to consider... we've got a "go anywhere" base, so if you're getting into steep, technical terrain, remember that even a small slide can knock you off your ride, slam you into a tree, and throw a curve ball at your day.

Recent Activity

Sunday's strong northeast winds moved a tremendous amount of snow around, leading to this decent sized natural avalanche on a steep, southerly facing slope near Hoyt Peak. Micheal J has more info and insights found HERE.

Observations, trip reports, and avalanches found here.

Snow and Weather

Nowcast-

The weekend storm was a bit too far east to stack up big snow totals for much of the western Uinta range, instead we got all blow and hardly any snow. Quite the bust for the North Slope where only 5" of light density snow fell, but the further east you travel, from Bear River towards Blacks Fork, totals top 12" of snow with just over an inch of H20. Skies are clear this morning, temperatures in the teens and low 20's, and northwest wind blow 10-20 mph along the high ridges. Strong winds were smokin' yesterday , nuking our big open bowls, transforming the snow surface into a wind ravaged moonscape. Patches of soft snow are found, but they're in short supply. Mid and low elevation, wind sheltered terrain is the ticket.

Forecast-

Look for clear skies this morning with high temperatures climbing into the 30's. West and northwest winds blow in the 20's along the high ridges. Clouds increase late this afternoon and a weak storm produces light snow showers by about dinnertime.

Futurecast-

Tuesday's storm is a non-event with just and inch or two of snow expected. Dry and warmer for Wednesday through the end of the work week.

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

I will update this forecast by 7:00 AM tomorrow, Tuesday, March 16th.

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General Announcements

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 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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