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Forecast for the Uintas Area Mountains

Craig Gordon
Issued by Craig Gordon on
Friday morning, December 22, 2023
Generally LOW avalanche danger is found in the western Uinta's today, where both human triggered and natural avalanches are UNLIKELY on all aspects and all elevations. Remember- low danger isn't no danger which is why we carry avalanche rescue gear everyday, travel with experienced partners, and only expose one person at a time to potential hazard.
Remember... tread lightly! The pack is white from far, but far from white and there are plenty of hidden treasures barely buried under our thin facade of snow. Getting after it and slamming into an obstacle may result in damage to ourselves, our gear, or even worse... our ego.
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Considerable
High
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Learn how to read the forecast here
Weather and Snow
Nowcast- As the days gain 127 extra seconds of daylight, high pressure shifts east and thin clouds drift into the region. Temperatures remained rather mild overnight and register in the mid 20's. Along the high peaks, winds blow from the south and southeast and are rather well-behaved, clocking in at speeds of 10-15 mph. Riding and turning conditions are a bit of a mixed bag. The snowpack is still rather thin down low and the south half of the compass offers either brush or a crusty surface. But don't let your hearts be troubled... soft, creamy snow is still found on upper elevation, wind sheltered, shady slopes.
Forecast- Partly cloudy skies are on tap for a good portion of the day with high temperatures climbing into the mid 30's. Southerly winds remain reasonable, blowing in the teens along the high ridges. Clouds thicken late in the day and overnight lows dip into the mid 20's.
Futurecast- Snow develops Saturday morning, but I'm sorry to report... our weekend storm is a non-event. Yeah it'll be cold, but it's rather moisture starved and I bet we only see 2"-4" of storm snow before high pressure builds for Christmas Eve. Looking into the weather crystal ball... there's nothing in the hopper.
The landscape might be a bit lean and mean, but the viewscape is fat and happy. Getting into the mountains and taking a big breathe of fresh air sure does provide a calm, peaceful place to get grounded for a minute or two.
Recent Avalanches
It's been quiet on the eastern front with no significant human triggered or natural avalanche activity reported for nearly two weeks.
Trip reports and the latest observations are found HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
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An unofficial snow stability test (don't try this at home :) Mark demonstrates his sled prowess and overall snowpack stability.
All the collective feedback from snow-pros around the Uinta region suggest the (persistent weak layer or PWL) about 30 cm off the ground, is easy to identify in our snowpits, but for the moment, this layer is dormant and happy in its own skin. The weekend storm is a non-event and isn't gonna do much to tip the scales, instead it feels like it'll nickel and dime us. But let's not take our eyes of the prize... once winter returns from its hiatus, our structurally challenged snowpack setup doesn't bode well for stability.
What might be a greater concern in the short-term is the diminishing strength of the surface snow created during our recent stretch of high and dry weather. Sure, this surface snow carves nicely and is fun to ride. But today's noisy pow, or in snow-geek-speak... near surface facets, is tomorrow's weak layer which could deliver a tricky setup when it storms again and new snowfall builds a cohesive slab on top.
Additional Information
I upgraded the Uinta weather station network this summer and all that real-time info is found HERE. Simply click on "western Uinta" tab and then "weather stations" tab.
We are always looking for snow and avalanche observations or just general riding conditions. So... if you see something, say something. You can reach me directly at [email protected] or 801-231-2170.
Also, if you're looking for more avy education opportunities for yourself, your crew, or your club please don't hesitate to reach out to me and we'll find a presentation, class, or clinic for ya!
General Announcements
CLICK HERE FOR MORE GENERAL INFO AND FAQ
Issued at 04:30 on Friday, December 22nd this forecast will be updated by 0700 Saturday, December 23rd, 2023.
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.
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