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Forecast for the Uintas Area Mountains

Craig Gordon
Issued by Craig Gordon for
Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Avalanches are breaking deep and wide, taking out the entire seasons snowpack.

At all elevations, the avalanche danger is HIGH today and human triggered avalanches are very likely on all steep, snow covered slopes. The danger is most pronounced on slopes facing the north half of the compass, particularly those with an easterly component to their aspect. Once triggered avalanches have the possibility to break deep and wide, creating a dangerous and possibly unsurvivable slide.

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Learn how to read the forecast here
Avalanche Warning

AN AVALANCHE WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE WESTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS WHERE DEEP, DANGEROUS, AND POSSIBLY UNSURVIVABLE HUMAN TRIGGERED AVALANCHES ARE LIKELY ON ALL STEEP, SNOW COVERED SLOPES. AVALANCHES CAN BE TRIGGERED FROM A DISTANCE AND LOW ON THE SLOPE.

Special Announcements

Our collective prayers, energy, and condolences go out to the friends and families of Ashleigh Nicole Cox and Clint Conover who were both tragically killed in separate avalanche accidents this weekend. Accident reports can be found here

Weather and Snow

Skies are partly cloudy, northwest winds are blowing 10-20 mph along the high peaks, and temperatures are in the mid teens and low 20's. Riding and turning conditions are excellent in wind sheltered terrain.

Ted Scroggin at Ice Station Zebra yesterday.

Click here for current winds, temperatures, and snowfall throughout the range.

Click here for trip reports and avalanche observations.

Recent Avalanches


We knew it was gonna be an interesting day when just out of the gates we are mere minutes behind a fresh slide triggered on the Mill Hollow slide path.

The madness continues. After installing a beacon checker, fixing our wx station network, and saving a few kittens along the way, Ted and I are on the shoulder of Currant Creek Peak when a sledder triggers a 4-7 foot deep, 1500 ft wide Uinta pocket that breaks to the ground, snapping trees along the way. The dust settles and a sledder at the bottom waves all clear with one hand while changing his shorts with the other. Details describing the slide can be found here.

Recent avalanche activity is found here.

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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
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Description

It's no mystery and you don't have to be a rocket scientist or a snow scientist for that matter to know it's sketchy out there. Look around.... both natural and human triggered avalanches are everywhere and they continue to break deep and wide. Much of our terrain remains suspect and making matters more complicated is the fact that avalanches can be triggered low on the slope on relatively flat terrain. The danger is most pronounced in terrain facing the north half of the compass and today you need to avoid being on or below steep, shady slopes. It doesn't mean you can't ride. It does mean you need to consider what's hanging above you and what you're connected to. Once triggered, today's slides will easily break to weaker layers buried deep in the snowpack, resulting in a dangerous and possibly unsurvivable slide. Recent avalanches on the same type of terrain you wanna ride are huge clues to unstable snow.

Where the pack is deep, snow stability tests are producing failures within the recent storm snow. Where the pack is shallow, the same tests are failing at the ground.

Additional Information

Clouds increase throughout the day and snow should begin falling this afternoon, continuing through the day Thursday. West and northwest winds increase as the day wares on, blowing into the 30's and 40's by late afternoon. Temperatures climb into the low 30's before dipping into the mid 20's overnight. 6"-10" of snow is a good bet by late Thursday. High pressure builds late Friday into Saturday bringing unseasonably warm temperatures for the weekend.

General Announcements

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can call me directly at 801-231-2170, email [email protected], or email by clicking HERE

This is a great time of year to schedule a free avalanche awareness presentation for your group or club. You can contact me at 801-231-2170 or email [email protected]

Donate to your favorite non-profit –The Utah Avalanche Center. The UAC depends on contributions from users like you to support our work.

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Utah Avalanche Center mobile app - Get your advisory on your iPhone along with great navigation and rescue tools.

The information in this advisory is from the US Forest Service which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

I will update this advisory by 7:00 AM on Thursday Feb. 13, 2014

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