Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Weather Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Class List UAC Class List Online Classes Resources and Tutorials Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Observation: Hwy 150, Steiner, Lofty

Observation Date
1/6/2021
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Hwy 150, Steiner, Lofty
Location Name or Route
Hwy 150, Steiner, Lofty
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Clear sunny day with just a few very high clouds, mostly calm winds with a slight northwest breeze not moving any snow today. Temperatures were not January like with the snow taking on some heat on the sunny aspects.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Nice to see a decent shot of snow from the recent storm with around 5" at the trail head and about 10-12" for the higher elevations near Steiner and Lofty Peak areas. Generally nice powder snow conditions and the riding and turning is slowly getting better, but I'm still hesitant to get too comfortable off the groomed trail.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Fairly widespread cracking and collapsing today with shooting cracks and booming whoomps from a snow pack that is still quite unstable.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
The current snow pack is still quite unstable and the weak snow structure continues to produce cracking and collapsing and booming whoomps.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
The slight northwest breeze today was not adding to the hazard, but there could be some lingering wind drifts that are still sensitive to a persons weight. I did not test too many wind drifted areas and kept my slope angles very low.
Comments
Our ace groomer Mark Brown was out yesterday getting the trails in shape for the winter and observed first hand the touchy snow conditions as he made his way up the highway. Many road cuts and slopes below the highway would crack and spider web from the weight of the snow cat. Great red flag information that the current snow pack is weak and unstable and capable of producing avalanches.
The new Steiner weather station is looking good and strong with about 80cm (32") on the ground. The conditions have been improving slowly and some riders are starting to venture out off the groomed trails a little more.
The High Uintas ae looking a little more white with each storm.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates