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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago.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

Heads up... three nights without a solid refreeze delivers a peculiar and unpredictable avalanche hazard-

During the heat of the day, avalanche danger rises to CONSIDERABLEin mid and upper elevation polar terrain, especially steep, rocky, and complex slopes facing northwest through southeast where both natural and human-triggered avalanches are LIKELY. Any avalanche triggered can fail on our mid January problem child (weak, sugary, PWL), resulting in a deep and very dangerous, bone snapping, tree splintering slide that stacks up multiple yards of cement-like debris.

Don't forget- the sun is intense and if you're feeling like a forgotten piece of tofu on the end of a veggie kabob in your Traeger... so is the snowpack.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    3

    Weak, sugary facets formed during the mid January drought are buried 1'-4' below the snow surface and have largely been partying without a care in the world for the past two months, protected under a dense, cohesive slab... our February and March storm snow. However, recent steamy temperatures coupled with a few nights void of solid refreeze are gonna continue teasing the January PWL. I'm a little surprised by its tough skin, but eventually it's gonna get cranky and bite back. This is a peculiar setup for us for this time of year and we're in unchartered waters. As such, we should expect the unexpected, because unusual snowpacks deliver unusual avalanches.

Special Avalanche Bulletin

What-

A Special Avalanche Advisory is in effect for all mountain regions across Utah through Sunday, March 22nd, as avalanche danger is expected to rise.

When-

In effect from 6 AM MST Saturday to 6 AM MST Monday.

Where-

The mountains of Utah and southeastern Idaho.

Impacts-

Record-breaking warm temperatures will rapidly destabilize the snowpack across the state, increasing the likelihood of widespread, spontaneous, destructive wet avalanches. Wet avalanches could occur on all aspects and at all elevations, including places that typically stay colder this time of year. Avoid travel on and below steep slopes, including avalanche runout zones and terrain traps.

Special Announcement

After a difficult week in February that included four avalanche fatalities, UAC forecasters will host a community debrief to discuss the conditions surrounding these accidents. We will review the weather and snowpack patterns, share observations from the field, and discuss lessons learned. This event will not be live but include time for questions and discussion, with the goal of learning together as a community. Please submit your questions HERE.

Click Here to Support the Spring Campaign!

Recent Activity

The walls ain't tumblin' down just yet, but a few moist, loose sluffs were observed near the Upper Weber Ridgeline Thursday.

Click below for any recent slides that have been observed, or for travel and condition reports from across the range.

View All Avalanches & Observations Here

Snow and Weather

Nowcast - With clear skies overhead and high pressure still in place, March Madness aims for record setting temperatures and tips off center court with overnight lows in the mid and upper 40's F° across the board. Winds from the southwest blow 15-25 mph near the ridges. Riding and turning conditions have taken a hard hit, though smooth solar slopes offer a mid morning corn harvest.

Forecast - One more day of sultry, record breaking heat before high pressure shifts east. Look for mostly sunny skies this morning with high temperatures soaring into the mid 60's F° by about suppertime. Clouds increase and winds from the southwest ramp into the 40's by late in the afternoon.

Futurecast - A dry cold front slated to slide through the region overnight knocks temperatures down slightly to wrap up the weekend. High pressure builds for early next week, delivering another run of unusually warm, summer-like temperatures.

Check out the Uinta Weather Network here!

Travel Conditions - North and south side gates are open on HWY-150, plowed from the north to Whitney and from the south to Spring Canyon, and of course SR35 remains open over the pass. Solars are melted out up to 9,000' and many windward slopes are scoured and worked to the dirt.

The Whitney turnoff along HWY-150 provides a rugged, yet rideable launchpad for upper elevation access.

Ted visited Upper Whitney Basin Thursday and reports acceptable riding in upper elevation alpine terrain.

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! Contact us directly through the info below:

Craig Gordon -- [email protected] -- 801 203 2170

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, March 21, at 03:30 and expires 24 hours after it was issued. We'll update this information by about 7:00 AM tomorrow.

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