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Forecast for the Uintas Area Mountains

Craig Gordon
Issued by Craig Gordon on
Wednesday morning, December 9, 2020
The avalanche danger is generally LOW and human triggered avalanches are unlikely. Shallow snow cover and low tide conditions suggest the biggest threat is slamming into a season ending obstacle like a tree stump, barely hidden under the surface of our thin, early season snowpack.
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Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
This week is the 2nd Annual Avalanche Awareness Week. We will be hosting avalanche awareness and education events across the state of Utah. Get a full schedule of events here.
The holiday season is right around the corner!! Looking for that special something for your partner? or yourself?
Well, we've got an easy shopping solution for you. Buy your gifts at our Pray for Snow online auction.
If you missed the 13th Annual Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop, the recordings are available for purchase from the UAC Store. Click here for more details.
Looking for ways to navigate through an unusual winter? Please visit this website with information about Responsible Winter Recreation by the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation
Weather and Snow
Nowcast-
If you're looking for clean air... head to the mountains! Above the valley gunk and funk, skies are clear, and temperatures quite mild, generally registering in the low to mid 30's. Southerly winds increased around 1:00 this morning and blow 15-20 mph along the high peaks. Riding and turning conditions are a mixed bag, though there's patches of creamy snow found in wind sheltered terrain. But with snow depths only averaging 16" or so, the Uinta's are quite thin.
Forecast-
High pressure remains in place across the region today. Look for mostly sunny skies with high temperatures climbing into the low 40's. Overnight lows dip into the 20's. Southwest winds bump into the low 30's along the high ridges late in the day. A dry cold front crosses northern Utah this evening, bringing a cooling trend with no snow.
Futurecast-
A weak storm system clips the northern Utah mountains Friday into Saturday. Snow showers begin around sunrise Friday and continue into Saturday morning. Not a big, game changing storm, though we might be able to squeak out 6" of light density snow before things wind down.
Looking for real-time temps, snow, or wind?
Click here and then on the "western Uinta" tab for western Uinta specific, weather station network.
Park City Powder Cat avy forecaster, educator extraordinaire, and all around great-guy... Dave Kikkert captured this beautiful image of our weakening surface snow.
Recent Avalanches
No new avalanche activity to report.
To view trip reports and recent avalanche activity, simply click here.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
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Our main man Ted Scroggin was near Bald Mountain and Reids Peak yesterday and put together an excellent viddy illustrating the current state of our snowpack.
While the avalanche hazard is generally LOW, there may be a shallow, fresh wind drift that reacts to our additional weight. Sure... you'd really have to go out of your way to find an avalanche today, but if you do trigger a slide the danger of slamming into a season ending obstacle is very real. So... look for and avoid any fat, rounded piece of snow, tone it down, take it slow and remember- it's a long season and you definitely don't want to instantly end it before things get going.
Additional Information
Last week we installed a snow study site near Camp Steiner and it's up and running! Click HERE real-time snow fall, total snow depth, and current temperatures. This data fills in a big black hole of snow information near Mirror Lake. I'd like to give a big shout out to Sean and Jesse from the NWS along with Ted Scroggin, our main man in the Uinta's... the entire crew is pictured above.
I'll update this forecast by 7:00 AM tomorrow, Thursday December 10th.
Your observations are import, so please let me know what you're seeing... click HERE and contribute to this amazing community based program
Information on outdoor recreation - The State of Utah created this webpage with information about recreating on both state and federal public lands during the current health crisis.
Skiing and riding at closed ski resorts - Some resorts allow access now, and some do not. Please check HERE for the latest info on ski area access.
New to the backcountry (including riding at closed resorts) - Watch the award-winning, 15 minute Know Before You Go video, or take the 5-part, free online-learning series.
General Announcements
If you see or trigger an avalanche or just wanna let me know what you're seeing you can reach me directly at 801-231-2170 or [email protected]
The information in this forecast is from the US Forest Service which is solely responsible for its content.
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