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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Heads up! Today’s avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE and human-triggered avalanches are LIKELY on steep, upper-elevation slopes facing northwest through southeast. Strong winds and new snow have created dense slabs on the leeward sides of ridges that will be reactive to the additional weight of a rider. On polar aspects, we can remotely trigger an avalanche with the potential to break 2-5’ deep and wider than we might expect resulting in a nasty ride.

What is my exit strategy for the day? I’m getting out of the wind and finding creamy, refreshed riding conditions in protected terrain, low angle terrain with no overhead hazards such as steep slopes, cornices, or obvious avalanche paths.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2

    Moderate and strong winds from the south half of the compass created both soft and hard drifts that will react to our additional weight. Today's wind slabs, found around the compass on mid and upper-elevation slopes, will be touchy and specific to leeward sides of ridges and cross-loaded terrain features. In addition, with plenty of storm snow available to move around I would expect drifts to continue to grow in size and become more widespread as the day progresses. Remember even a small slab could create a nasty scenario in a terrain trap where snow can stack up really deep, such as a creek bed, road cut, or benched terrain feature.

    How do I deal with this problem? Im looking for and avoiding rounded pillows, and fat pieces of snow and cornice on leeward slopes in steep starting zones and terrain features. If I have to expose my crew or myself to the hazard we do so one at a time, and always keep eyes on eachother.

    Looking upslope at Trevor and a wind-drifted, leeward slope where a cornice formed. This is a sure sign wind slabs are likely to form nearby, too.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Our recent storm improved the quality of riding and that's stellar news for the long-haul, but in the short term it’s creating some issues especially where the snowpack is shallow and weak. The PWL was happy in its own skin and laid dormant with no additional load or stress, but I suspect the additional 1"+ of SWE since the start of the storm brings our snowpack and avalanche dragon to life. Natural avalanches may not be observed, but many slopes with a polar component are hanging in the balance waiting for a trigger like us to roll around.

    Any slide breaking into deeper snow today would prove to be a rugged ride, and one you may not walk away from. I'm keeping a tight program and am avoiding steep, thin, rocky mid and upper-elevation terrain on the north half of the compass. And I remind myself that thin spots are potential trigger points and exist near bushes, rocks, or steep rollovers were the snowpack is most stressed and succetpible to our addtional weight.

    Local intel from yesterday morning shows the incoming storm snow burying the old, faceted surface where avalanches will most likely initiate in the next few days -- Thanks for the photo and info, Andy P!

Special Avalanche Bulletin

What Heavy snowfall and strong winds have caused dangerous avalanche conditions to develop this weekend in the Uinta Mountains.

When In effect from 6 AM MST this morning through 6 AM MST Monday morning

Where For the Uinta Mountains.

Impacts Dangerous avalanche conditions will develop on many slopes today. People are likely to trigger avalanches by being on or below slopes steeper than 30 degrees. Avalanches could be triggered remotely (from a distance) or from below.

What To Do Avoid traveling on or underneath steep north-facing terrain at mid and upper elevations in the backcountry. Carry and know how to use avalanche rescue equipment.

Special Announcement

Urgent battery replacement required for anyone who received batteries from one of our participating "Batteries for Beacons" shops. Please review the "Batteries for Beacons" replacement notice on our blog. Batteries distributed through our "Batteries for Beacons" program this year have shown to be inadequate length.

Recent Activity

Yesterday, a rider unexpectedly triggered an avalanche, breaking 2’ deep and a couple hundred feet wide while traveling low across a heavily wind-drifted, north facing slope in the wind zone. This is a big heads up to me that hazard is on the rise and things are beginning to get tricky again.

As always, gain more intel and info via obs and trip reports from across the range and beyond, here!

Snow and Weather

Nowcast

Since the start of the storm early yesterday morning, the range picked up 6”-10” of new, high-density snow, with about .8”-1.2” of snow water equivalent or what we call SWE.

Temperatures are maritime-esque in the 20’s and 30’s with rain at lower elevations below 7,000’ and heavy, wet snow delivered up high. South and southwest winds have been strong and consistent averaging 30 MPH with gusts nearing 50 on the high peaks and ridges.

Forecast

This morning expect to pick up 2-5” inches of high-density snow as this storm wraps up and pinches off later today into the evening. Temperatures hang right around freezing while moderate, southwest winds continue to crank around 30 MPH, with gusts into the high 40's and 50's on the high peaks and ridges.

Futurecast

A break in the action later this evening into tomorrow with a big warm up on the way. Expect unusually warm temperatures to settle in with the first Monday of February with the hope of some more action from the precip machine towards mid-week.

General Announcements

We are always looking for snow and avalanche observations or just general riding conditions. So... if you see something, say something. You can reach our team directly by contacting Craig at [email protected], 801-231-2170, or Andrew at [email protected], or 860-460-8142.

General Information

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 Sunday, February 2nd at 05:00AM and expires 24 hours after it was issued. We will update the forecast by 0700 AM tomorrow. But, in the meantime reach out to us with questions, or if you see anything in your travels.

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