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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The western Uinta snowpack remains deceptively tricky... once triggered, today's avalanches will break deeper and wider than you might expect, resulting in a dangerous slide with severe consequences.

In the wind zone, at and above treeline, you'll find CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger. Human triggered avalanches are LIKELY on steep, wind drifted slopes. Steep terrain facing the north half of the compass, and particularly slopes with an easterlycomponent to its aspect are most suspect and should be avoided.

Mid elevation slopes offer MODERATE avalanche danger and human triggered avalanches are POSSIBLE on steep, shady slopes.

Here's your exit strategy-

LOW avalanche danger is found on low elevation slopes, particularly those facing south, but snow cover is super thin.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Andy was on the south half of the range Friday and took a look at this recent wind drift initiated by a natural cornice fall. His great trip report is found here

    Most wind drifts settled and gained strength the past few days and have for the most part become quite relaxed. But as we know, the Uinta's are a big place and a few lingering wind drifts may break deeper and wider than you might expect. The ticket is to avoid pulling on the dogs tail. Steer clear of steep wind drifted slopes and terrain features like chutes and gullies which appear fat and rounded or sound hollow like a drum. And remember... our snowpack is super shallow and triggering even a small slide can take you for a body-bruising ride through rocks and stumps barely hidden under the thin snowpack.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    3

    Michael J spotted this snowmobile triggered slide in Hoyt Peak Bowl on Friday. Breaking 18-24"deep and 200' wide, in a steep rocky section where the snowpack is slightly shallower and weaker... this is the type of avalanche you could still trigger today.

    Crazy how nothing's changed with our persistent weak layer, but that's why anything "persistent" in our snowpack takes a long time to heal and sometimes remains active 'til it flows out of our taps in the summer. And we don't have over-analyze the situation because we've got a number of red flags waving in our faces. Booming collapses, shooting cracks, and the biggest sign of avalanches.... AVALANCHES!

    So here's the deal- the snowpack is complex, we have a persistent weak layer in the mid portion of the pack, and this fragile structure experienced a rapid change when last Tuesday's storm slammed down on it. And while there were a few natural avalanches, many slopes hang in the balance waiting for a trigger like us to roll along and knock the legs out from underneath. This is the setup where we can trigger slides from the flats, low on the slope, from a distance, or from adjacent slopes. We don't need to be on the slope... just connected to it.

    This is the kind of avalanche where we pull the entire log pile down on top of us, even if we're playing on low angle terrain.

    But you don't have to ride blind... so, tweak small test slopes, looking for and listening to signs of unstable snow like whoomping sounds and sudden collapses of the snowpack or shooting cracks in front of your skis, board, or sled. And of course the biggest clue of all... recent avalanches, especially on the same types of slopes you wanna ride on.

Special Announcement

With great sadness I report Utah's first avalanche accident of the season which occurred in the backcountry terrain of Dutch Draw, on Friday. Our team, in partnership with Canyons Village snow safety, visited the site Saturday, assisting in the investigation and will report details as they become available. Of course, our hearts and collective energy go out to everyone involved, particularly to the friends and family of a 31 year old Clinton, Utah man who was tragically killed. A preliminary report is posted here.

If you're searching for an alternative to avoid dangerous backcountry conditions, well look no further. Thanks to the generous support of our local resorts, Ski Utah, and Backcountry, discount lift tickets are now available. Support the UAC while you ski at the resorts this season. Tickets are available here.

Recent Activity

Mark took a rip up the Mirror Lake Highway on Friday and discovered this natural avalanche from earlier in the week near Reids Peak. It fits the recent trend of slides failing on weak, midpack snow and reflects the type of avalanche we could still trigger today. Mark has a great trip report, advice, and insight posted here.

Looking for more avy info and trip reports? Well then, simply click here.

Remember.... solid decision making is paramount because our front-line health care workers are maxed out. So, let's collectively think about our decisions and the consequences that may have on others.

Snow and Weather

Nowcast-

Get out of the valley funk and into the mountains where the air is clean and crisp. Currently, skies are clear and temperatures slightly inverted with ridgetop elevations registering in the teens and mountain valleys bottoming out in the single digits. Northerly winds are about as light as they get blowing just 10-15 mph even along the high peaks. Though there's no recent new snow to report, last Tuesday's storm delivered a solid 10" of medium density snow and conditions look more encouraging out there as average snow depths creep into the three foot range. Remember to tread lightly, it's still low tide in the Uinta's and travel is sorta limited to road rides and grassy slopes.

Forecast-

The clever graphic above says it all. Expect mostly sunny skies with temperatures climbing into the 30's. Winds remain light and northerly, blowing in the teens along the high ridges.

Futurecast-

A midweek brush by provides a flurry or two, but no big storms in site.

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

Andy Nassetta moved the avalanche transceiver checkpoint down to it's winter home at the Nobletts Trailhead. Please make sure to swing by and make sure your avy gear is on your body, sending a signal, and functioning properly

I'll update this forecast by 7:00 AM tomorrow, Tuesday January 12th.

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

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]

The information in this forecast is from the US Forest Service which is solely responsible for its content.

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