In partnership with: Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center and Utah State Parks.
Good morning. This is Craig Gordon with the Forest Service
Utah Avalanche Center with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory for the
western Uinta Mountains. Today is Wednesday, February 4, 2004 and it’s 7:30
a.m.
Current conditions:
The western Uintas got clobbered yesterday with some
of the finest, ultra-light density snow the state has to offer. Snow densities
averaged around 5% and the southern parts of the region really benefited from
the unusual southeast flow. Snow totals are as follows; 10” at Daniels Summit,
16” along the Duchesne Ridge, 18” at Trial Lake, and 20” at Mirror Lake.
Further north into Thousand Peaks and Upper Chalk Creek new snow depths averaged
in the 8”-10” range. Skies are mostly cloudy and light snow is still falling
over most of the region. Winds are light and out of the northwest blowing at
speeds of 5-15 mph along the ridges. Current 10,000’ temperatures are in the
low teens.
Avalanche Conditions:
Yesterday certainly ranks up there with one of the
best days of the year as in your face powder skiing and over-the-hood powder
riding were par for the course. If you’re looking for an encore performance, be
aware this storm was location and elevation dependent. The lower elevations really
got skunked on this one and below about 9,000’ in elevation only 2”-4” of new
snow has fallen.
It’s a bit of a complicated pattern out there this
morning and you’ll really need to be on your toes particularly if you’re getting
into steep, upper elevation terrain, where there’s a foot or more of new snow. There
are two distinct types of avalanche conditions to be aware of today. First off,
steep upper elevation slopes were very sensitive and sluffing naturally early
yesterday and with more additional snow overnight I think they’ll be active
today as well. In addition, the new snow was quite reactive to the added weight
of a person. Slope cuts were producing large sluffs that entrained a lot of
snow and these avalanches were running fast and far, producing small dust
clouds as they descended the slope and piling up more snow than you might
expect. Terrain traps such as gullies should be avoided today where one these
monster sluffs could bury you deeply.
Secondly, in the beginning phases of the storm,
southeasterly winds were strong enough to create shallow soft slabs in some
unusual locations. Today you’ll want to be on the lookout for wind drifts that
would have formed on the leeward side of ridges as well as around terrain
features such as chutes, gullies, and sub-ridges.
If you’re getting into steep, upper elevation terrain
where there’s an abundance of new snow you’ll need to utilize your safe travel
skills today. Ride or ski a slope one at a time, have an escape route planned
and discuss this with your partners, and get out of the way and into a safe
location at the bottom of the slope. As always have a beacon, shovel, and probe
and know how to use these rescue tools.
Bottom Line:
The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today at upper elevations where there is a foot or
more of new snow, on all slopes steeper than about 35 degrees, especially those
with recent deposits of wind-drifted snow. Human triggered avalanches are
probable and natural avalanches are possible.
At mid elevations, which received less snow and wind,
the avalanche danger is MODERATE
today on all slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Human triggered avalanches are
possible.
At low elevations the avalanche danger is generally LOW.
Mountain Weather:
A cold, moist
weather system will continue to shift east over the region today giving us one
last gasp of moisture and we can expect another 3”-5” of snow before it’s all
said and done. Skies will be mostly cloudy and temperatures cold with highs at 10,000’
near 15 degrees and at 8,000’ near 20 degrees. Overnight lows will be near 10
degrees. Winds should remain fairly light, out of the north and northwest, at speeds
of 5-15 mph along the ridges. Thursday looks to be mostly cloudy with the possibility
of a snow shower or two and temperatures will similar to today. A break in the
action is slated for Friday with another system sliding into the region for the
weekend.
General Information:
We can always use snow and avalanche information and
your snowpack and avalanche observations could help to save someone’s life. If
you see or trigger an avalanche give us a call at 801-231-2170 or
1-800-662-4140.
Also, if you’d
like to schedule a free avalanche awareness talk and/or field day give us a
call at 801-524-5304.
The
information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely
responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche
conditions and local variations always occur.
I will update this advisory by 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb.7, 2004.
Thanks for
calling.