We are in the process of finalizing a report about the
March 9th avalanche fatality in the Uintas. Thank you for your patience, and we will publish the final report in coming days.
Thank you to everyone who donated to our Spring Campaign. We appreciate your support and look forward to creating new tools to help you stay safe in the backcountry.
This morning, under obscured skies it is lightly snowing, trailhead temperatures are in the mid-teens ˚F and the highest ridgelines are in the single digits ˚F. Winds are have picked up and are blowing from the southwest 20 gusting to 30 MPH at the 8,000' ridgelines and west-northwest 30 gusting to 40 MPH at the highest ridgelines. Overnight 3-6" of new snow fell. Storm totals range from 20-45" of snow with 1.5-5" of
water weight.
For today, we are looking at overcast skies with 4-6" of new snow forecasted and up to 8-10" in areas favored by lake effect. Temperatures will be 24-26 ˚F with winds blowing west-northwest 15 gusting to 25 MPH at the 8,000' ridgelines and 25 gusting to 40 MPH at the 9,000' ridgelines. Wind speeds will drop through the day and there is a chance of increased snowfall rates with the possibility of lightning this afternoon.
The relatively warm surface (36-39 ˚F) of the Great Salt Lake and the cold air of the incoming storm can enhance snowfall as the warm air rises off the lake surface. Wind direction will control which way the fire hose gets pointed. The U of U weather page has an experimental forecast for Lake Effect
HERE and is worth checking out especially in the spring and the fall when the lake is warmer and the chances of
Lake Effect are higher.
Our partners at the National Weather Service have issued a
Winter Storm Warning in effect until noon today.
Yesterday backcountry travelers reported sensitive soft slabs of new snow related to the increased snowfall rates There was a widespread natural cycle in both Cottonwood Canyons and I would imagine the highest elevation terrain in the Ogden backcountry was reactive during that time period.
Check out all observations
HERE.