Wasatch Cache and Uinta National Forests

In partnership with: Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center and Utah State Parks.

Avalanche ADVISORY

friday DECEMber 31, 2004

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 Friday, December 31, 2004 and it’s 7:30 a.m.

Announcements:

We’re experiencing some technical difficulties with the Moffit Peak weather station. Hopefully I’ll have those worked out early next week.

For recent avalanche photos click here.

Current Conditions:

Another major winter storm is slated to affect the region today and continue through this evening. A moist and increasingly strong southwest flow will be over the area today ahead of a vigorous Pacific storm. Once again, the strong southerly winds are the big news this morning. Average wind speeds have been in the low 30’s and gusts near 50 mph have been recorded along the more exposed ridgelines. Temperatures are in the low 20’s at 10,000’ and near 30 degrees at 8,000’. 6” of snow has fallen in the past 24 hours and that pales in comparison to storm totals, which for the past 3 days are close to 21/2 feet at the upper elevations! The riding and sliding conditions are getting better by the day especially in non-wind effected terrain.

Avalanche Conditions:

It’s starting to get down right spooky out there and the avalanche danger will be increasing today. I’d expect by this afternoon we’d all want to be off the snow and hiding under our beds. For three days now winds have been raging along the upper elevations and have moved a tremendous amount of snow around, forming drifts up to 5’ deep in the most wind exposed locations. Coupled with the new snow we’ve received, a lot of weight has been slammed down onto the snowpack. Yesterday as my field partner and I stomped around we were seeing all the classic signs of instability- shooting cracks, collapsing and “whumphing” of the snowpack, and triggering avalanches from a distance. To further complicate the situation, at mid elevations where we usually go during storms, the snowpack has become weak. The hurricane force winds are penetrating into this type of terrain, forming a slab on top of this weak snow, making the usual “safe” play areas dangerous as well.

Chances are, if you trigger an avalanche today, it’s going to be big, scary, and quite possibly deadly. Even if you’re playing on low angle terrain, be aware of steep slopes above and adjacent to you. As the day progresses, you’ll want to avoid avalanche runout zones.

Watching your slope angles and following safe travel techniques are the keys to staying alive today. Only put one person on the slope at a time, always keep an eye on your partner, and get out of the way and into a safe location at the bottom of the slope. Remember to carry all the necessary safety gear. Everyone needs to be wearing avalanche beacons, shovels, and probes.

Bottom Line:

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE this morning on all slopes steeper than about 35 degrees with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. Human triggered avalanches are probable and natural avalanche possible.

With more wind and snow I expect the avalanche danger could rapidly rise to HIGH on all steep wind loaded slopes. That means both human triggered avalanches and natural avalanches are likely.

The avalanche danger is MODERATE today in wind sheltered terrain, on slopes less steep than 30 degrees.

Mountain Weather:

It’s going to be another wild one out there today and the National Weather Service has continued the winter storm warning for the region. Periods of snow, heavy at times, will continue through the day with the best shot happening late this afternoon into this evening. Snow accumulations will be in the 1’-3’ range by Saturday morning. Temperatures will be fairly mild with 8,000’ highs near 30 degrees and at 10,000’ in the mid 20’s. Overnight lows will be in the low teens. Winds will be cranking out of the southwest at speeds of 25-35 mph with stronger gusts along the ridges. Winds turn a little more westerly tonight, but remain strong into Saturday morning. On New Years day we should see decreasing snow showers and cooler temperatures. Another storm slides into the area Saturday night into Sunday.

General Information:

We’re interested in what you’re seeing especially if you observe or trigger an avalanche. Call 1-800-662-4140, or 801-231-2170, or email to [email protected] or fax to 801-524-6301 and fill us in with all the details.

If you’d like to schedule a free snowmobile specific avalanche talk and or a field day, please call 801-231-2170.

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 Jan. 1, 2005.

Thanks for calling!