Observation: North Slope Environs

Observation Date

1/4/2026

Observer Name

Ted Scroggin

Region

Uintas » North Slope Environs

Location Name or Route

Whitney Basin

Weather

Sky

Obscured

Precipitation

Light Snowfall

Wind Direction

Southwest

Wind Speed

Moderate

Weather Comments

Mostly cloudy with light snowfall this afternoon and temperatures continue to be mild. The southwest winds were strong to moderate getting into some of the lower more protected places. A number of large trees have come down fairly recently from high winds.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Dense Loose

Wind Crust

Damp

Snow Characteristics Comments

There was damp snow to start the day at the trailhead, with lighter density snow and improved riding conditions with elevation. The snow coverage is getting better in the Whitney area and I was not as nervous to venture off the summer roads.

Red Flags

Wind Loading

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

Generally quiet conditions as far as red flags other than the moderate to strong winds on the exposed ridges. Some soft minor wind slabs were developing this afternoon as light snow moved into the area. In this mid-elevation zone the snow pack was two to three feet deep and I did not get any alarming test results. Possibly a weak layer or two above and around the x-mas eve rain crust that was showing up in a couple shovel shear tests.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Persistent Weak Layer

Trend

Increasing Danger

Problem #1 Comments

Strong winds, dense snow to start out and heavy snow forecasted will likely stress the snowpack where the rain crust is thin and the snow pack is a bit shallow.

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

Wind Drifted Snow

Trend

Increasing Danger

Problem #2 Comments

Winds were on the increase today with soft wind slabs developing on the ridges and starting to get into lower protected areas. I noticed how the sustained strong winds have worked across the face of Double Hill, exposing the bare ground.

Comments

The winds have been working over Double Hill as well as other higher exposed terrain.

A snow pit from the Whitney Basin around the mid-elevation zone with the snow depth in this area around two to three feet.

The lower elevations are a bit grim right now and there is a fair amount of pavement exposed for the first mile or so on Highway 150.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Moderate

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Considerable

Coordinates

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