Donate to the 2024 Spring Campaign to help rebuild the UAC website.

Forecast for the Skyline Area Mountains

Brett Kobernik
Issued by Brett Kobernik for
Thursday, March 31, 2022
There is a MODERATE avalanche danger on the Skyline.
Wet snow avalanches mostly in the mid elevations (8000'-9500') are a concern.
Avoid steep slopes if you find yourself punching knee deep through the wet sloppy snowpack.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
The 2022 Spring Campaign wraps up today. We still need your support to help the UAC improve our avalanche forecasting services. PLEASE MAKE A DONATION TODAY, and thank you to everyone who has supported our work this season.
Weather and Snow
Current Conditions
The snowpack was more supportable on Wednesday compared to Tuesday. It was a bit more frozen up but mid and lower elevations remained punchy and unsupportable. If you stepped off your skis or machines you would punch knee to waist deep into the wet snow. Skiers reported poor riding conditions, sleds seemed like the tool of choice. Overnight temperatures dropped as low as they have in the last 5 days getting down into the mid 20s. West wind has been light.
Mountain Weather
A minor storm event will move through today but it looks like it will bring very little snow. Temperatures are going to get into the mid 30s and southwest wind will remain light for most of the day but increase a bit late in the day as it switches northwest. Tonight temperatures should cool off even more than they did last night. Friday will be sunny with highs into upper 30s and Saturday is sunny with highs into the mid 40s.
Ad
Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Wet snow avalanches remain somewhat of a concern. The snowpack has gone through a dramatic change over the last week with very warm temperatures. There has not been any significant natural avalanche activity that I know of due to this warming. However, everyone I spoke with that was out on Wednesday experienced large whoomping collapses of the snowpack which is a MAJOR red flag. The majority of these happened in the mid elevations where the snowpack remains wet and unconsolidated. Our dry sugary layer from Jan/Feb is most likely the culprit but it is now wet yet still loose. The 10 to 12 inches of new snow added on top of the pack no doubt was a contributor to the collapsing. The snowpack should continue to adjust and stabilize over the next few days with cooler overnight temperatures helping with a freeze cycle.
All that said, where I see the most danger is in the mid elevations. Avoid being on really steep terrain if you are punching deep into wet snow. Stay out of deep gullies and ravines with steep walls. Once you are up above about 9500' the snowpack is more frozen up and the old Persistent Weak Layer is damp and not as loose.
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.