Bulletin d’avalanche

Uintas

Utah Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

  • Alpin
  • Limite forestière
  • Sous la limite forestière
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 7 years ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

Heads up... unusually warm, wet weather is producing unusually dangerous avalanche conditions

In the wind zone at and above treeline, the avalanche danger is HIGH. Human triggered avalanches are VERY LIKELY on steep, wind drifted slopes, especially those with an easterly component to its aspect. Avalanches can be triggered from a distance or even low on the slope. While more the exception than the rule, avalanches breaking into deeper, buried weak layers remains a distinct possibility. Usual suspects include- steep, rocky, upper elevation terrain, especially slopes exhibiting a thin, shallow snowpack. Remember- any slide that breaks to old snow, immediately ruins your day.

Days of strong, sustained winds, drifted snow into mid elevation terrain where a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists and human triggered avalanches are LIKELY on steep wind drifted slopes.

Human triggered, new snow sluffs and shallow sides are possible on steep, low elevation slopes and a MODERATE avalanche danger exists.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Likely
    Taille
    3

    Follow the wind and you'll find the hazard. Above is a 24 data run from Windy Peak (10,662')

    Winds finally relaxed early this morning and that's good news. However, several days of nuking winds, coupled with dense, heavy snow created upside-down layering. Yesterday, we found stronger snow resting on top of lighter density snow from last week and we easily triggered sensitive wind slabs from a distance. In addition to tricky, trap door riding conditions, denser wind driven snow rests on slick heat crusts on sunny slopes. In either case, it's a dangerous combination in our mountains. As a matter of fact, several experienced backcountry riders voiced their surprise at how far yesterday's avalanches were traveling downslope and they were packing a punch.

    I think recent wind drifts won't be nearly as hair trigger as yesterday, but as the snow gains strength it will allow us to get onto steeper, more avalanche prone terrain. So let's exercise a little patience, let the snow heal for another minute or two and apply the best rule of thumb to avoid a close call and simply avoid steep wind drifted slopes, especially if they look fat and rounded or feel hollow and sound like a drum. Done and done.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    3

    Right now, most terrain offers a deep snowpack and it's happy in its own skin. However, additional dense, heavy snow and strong winds will test the strength of any weak layers in our pack.

    Yes, the big storm is over and now I need to think about suspect terrain I want to avoid and that includes steep, rocky terrain and slopes that avalanched near the ground earlier in the season.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    2

    Heads up... we've stacked up a lot of new snow at all elevations, including lower elevation terrain we normally consider safe. So, if you're trail running, dog walking, or going out for a family sledding adventure you'll definitely want to avoid being on or underneath steep snow covered slopes and steer clear of terrain traps like gullies or creek bottoms where even a small slide can pile up huge amounts of debris.

    In addition, roofalanches are a distinct possibility. So, if you're visiting your cabin for the first time and cranking the heat or building a fire to get it warm inside, remember... the entire winter snowpack rests on top, and steep roofs are prone to avalanching.

Special Announcement

While you're getting ready to ride the North Slope, check out the NEW beacon training park at the Bear River trailhead!

Huge thanks to the very generous donation provided by Dave Allen and of course to Ted Scroggin and Mark Nelson for all the big efforts to install this life saving facility.

Recent Activity

The biggest clue to avalanches is... other avalanches! Road cuts give us huge pieces of information. I take this beta and apply it to the type of terrain I want to avoid.

Yesterday, we found very sensitive wind drifts on steep, leeward slopes at all elevations.

Ted was stomping around Gold Hill yesterday and has an excellent assessment of current avy conditions here.

To view additional trip reports and recent avalanche activity, simply click here.

Snow and Weather

Currently-

The big multi-day storm shifted to the east overnight and in it's wake, skies are partly cloudy. Currently, temperatures register in the teens and mid 20's while west and southwest winds blow 20-30 mph along the high peaks.

With all the recent wind it's hard to accurately pin down how much snow feel the past few days, but 12"-16" feels like a pretty solid bet.

Uinta weather network info is found here. Simply click on the Western Uinta tab.

For today-

A weak cold front moves across northern Utah this afternoon and evening, producing light snow showers with temperatures climbing into the 30's. Westerly winds bump into the 40's and 50's along the high ridges later in the day.

Futurecast-

Snow diminishes overnight and into Sunday morning. Another weak system is on tap for late Monday into Tuesday.

Additional Info

Thanks to the generous support of our Utah ski resorts and Ski Utah, we have discount lift tickets available. All proceeds support the UAC. Get your tickets HERE.

Get one of these cool t-shirts to support the UAC and other avalanche centers across the U.S. INFO

General Announcements

The information in this forecast expires in 24 hours, but will be updated by 7:00 AM Sunday Feb. 9th.

This forecast is updated daily by 7:00 AM.

In the mean-time, 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

This is a great time of year to schedule one of our free avy awareness presentations.

You can email me directly [email protected]

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

Régions couvertes