NOWCAST-
Since yesterday 10-16 inches of snow has fallen in the Uinta Mountains, and IT'S STILL SNOWING this morning. Temperatures began dropping yesterday afternoon, and this morning they range from single digits F at upper elevations to the mid-teens F at most other places. Strong winds blew from the south yesterday (average 35-50 mph gusts up to 65 mph), but they eased this morning averaging 20 mph gusting to 30 mph from the west. At lower elevations, they are blowing 5-10 mph.
FORECAST-
Snow should continue for most of the day with an additional 4-6 inches of very low-density snow accumulating. Winds will ease a bit more and blow from the northwest by the end of the day bringing more cold air. Temperatures won't warm and should begin falling this afternoon.
FUTURECAST-
Snowfall ends by tomorrow and temperatures will be near zero degrees F. Skies will be clearing tomorrow afternoon, and the sun will be a very welcome sight with such cold temperatures.
Snowfall numbers over the last week are impressive and a major red flag. Here are the water numbers since December 23 from
SNOTEL sites. As a general rule of thumb one inch of water equates to 12 inches of snow.
North Slope to Mirror Lake Hwy-
Chalk Creek - 5.4" H2O
Hayden Fork - 4.3" H2O
Trial Lake - 7.2" H2O
South half of the range-
Currant Creek - 5.7" H2O
Daniels-Strawberry - 5.5" H2O
Looking for real-time temps, snow, or wind?
Click HERE and then on the "western Uinta" tab for western Uinta specific, weather station network.
A few avalanches have been sporadically observed and reported; however, clouds and snowfall have limited visibility during the last week. I don't think we really have a sense of the avalanche activity. What we know is that there have been avalanches, and many have been covered by recent snowfall.
Avalanches today can be hundreds of feet wide and 3-5 feet deep or more in wind-loaded locations.
Click
HERE for a list of recent avalanches.
A list of all other observations is found
HERE