UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Forecast for the Skyline Area Mountains

Brett Kobernik
Issued by Brett Kobernik for
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
A CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists on steep slopes above 9500' that face northwest, north and northeast.
Human triggered avalanches breaking 3 feet deep in these locations are likely.
Fresh deposits of wind drifted snow in these areas have increased the chances for triggering a dangerous avalanche.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
Please help support avalanche forecasting throughout Utah. DONATE TO THE SPRING CAMPAIGN to help raise the funds to support the forecasting you rely on.
Weather and Snow
Current Conditions
It's been windy. We've had steady moderate speed wind for the last couple of days. This has stirred the new snow up quite a bit and formed fresh drifts. The wind slowed overnight. Temperatures got up to around 30 on Wednesday and with cloud cover most of the day the snow stayed cold in the upper elevations. Temperatures dropped back down to around 20 overnight.
Mountain Weather
Northwest wind will be light to moderate in speed today. Definitely not as strong as the last couple of days. We'll have clear skies and temperatures into the mid 30s. Temperatures continue to gradually warm each day through the weekend. The next storm is shaping up for about Monday of next week. Currently it looks like it could bring a decent shot of snow.
Recent Avalanches
I stumbled onto an avalanche that looks like it was recently triggered by snowbikers. It was in Jordan Canyon and I estimate that it was triggered Saturday. There were two snowbike tracks leading into the fracture line at the top. I'm guessing someone got a little surprise. This was a large dangerous avalanche that broke at least 3 feet deep and deposited a large pile of debris.
Ad
Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
The Persistent Weak Layer of faceted snow that formed in Jan/Feb remains the biggest threat. It is buried about 3 feet deep. The recent human triggered avalanche in Jordan Canyon confirms this layer is still active. Snowpit tests continue to fail and propagate with a clean shear on the weak layer. I am hopeful that the string of quite warm days ahead will help stabilize this weak layer in the long run. However, it is possible that the warm weather may be enough to trigger a round of natural avalanches that break into this layer. The takeaway is that this is a fairly unusual situation we are in at this time of the season and people should continue to avoid those upper elevation more northerly facing slopes.
General Announcements
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.