Wasatch Cache and Uinta National Forests

In partnership with: Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center and Utah State Parks.

Avalanche advisory

Saturday, March 22, 2003

Good Morning. This is Craig Gordon with the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory for the western Uinta Mountains including but not limited to the terrain surrounding Chalk Creek, Smith-Moorehouse, the Mirror Lake Highway, and Woodland. Recent observations near Daniels and on the Evanston side of the range indicate similar snowpack conditions.

This advisory is made possible through a generous grant provided by Utah State Parks and will be available for the rest of the winter on weekends and holidays.

Today is Saturday, March 22, 2003, and it’s 7:30 in the morning.

Current Conditions:

Skies remained clear for most of the night allowing temperatures to drop into the upper teens in the high country. As of 6:00 this morning temperatures at most mountaintop locations are starting to creep into the mid 20’s. Winds are out of the northwest at speeds of 15-25 mph with higher gusts along the exposed upper elevation ridges. No new snow has fallen in the past 24 hrs, though last weeks storm produced close to 16” of snow above 9,500’. Snow surface conditions range from mostly supportable crusts on sun-exposed aspects at mid and lower elevations to good settled powder on upper elevation, protected, shady slopes.

Avalanche Conditions:

The combination of warm daytime temperatures and cold nights has aided in strengthening the sensitivities within the new snow we received this past week. Though with strong winds overnight and snow available for transport there will be a fresh batch of wind drifts that you’ll want to be on the lookout for today. At mid and lower elevations the surface snow is pretty well baked in place, so I’d suspect these drifts would be most prevalent in upper elevation leeward terrain.

In addition we’ll need to start thinking about the possibility of wet avalanches as well. As is the case this time of year the danger of wet slides will increase throughout the day and with the sun being so high in the sky it’s effects can be felt on all aspects. As the snow surface becomes unsupportable you’ll want to get off of and out from under steep, sun exposed slopes.

In general the snowpack has gained quite a bit of strength this past week, however the weakest snow continues to be found in steep, rocky terrain where the snowpack is shallow. While avalanches failing on old snow near the ground are becoming more isolated in nature, snowpit stability tests continue to reveal clean shears near the ground in this type of terrain. I’d continue to be wary of steep rocky terrain, breakovers, and slopes that have already avalanched this season.

Bottom Line:

Above timberline the avalanche danger is MODERATE today on all steep slopes with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. Human triggered avalanches are possible.

At all elevations the danger of wet avalanches is generally LOW this morning but will rise to MODERATE on steep sun exposed slopes as the day progresses.

There is also a MODERATE or localized danger of triggering a deeper avalanche on weak snow near the ground on steep, upper elevation, northwest through east facing slopes. Human triggered avalanches are possible especially on rocky slopes with a weak, shallow snowpack.

Mountain Weather:

High pressure will move east of the area today and a southwest flow will develop late this afternoon and increase through tonight. Skies will be clearing throughout the day and temperatures will be fairly mild. Highs today at 8,000’ will be near 45 degrees and at 10,000’ in the mid 30’s. Overnight lows will be in the mid 20’s. Winds will be out of the northwest this morning at speeds of 15-25 mph along the ridges and should switch to the southwest and increase in intensity later in the day. We should see increasing clouds late tonight with a chance of snow developing by early Sunday morning. Sunday looks to be mostly cloudy and snow showers are likely, though accumulations should only be in the 2”-4” range. For the extended outlook, scattered snow showers should continue into Monday with a clearing trend forecast for Tuesday.

General Information:

If you’re getting out and about please let us know what you’re seeing, especially if you see or trigger an avalanche. Call 1-800-662-4140, or 801-231-2170, or email to [email protected] or fax to 801-524-6301. Your observations could help to save someone’s life. I’ve received some great observations this past week and thanks to those of you who called in with timely snowpack and avalanche information. Please keep them coming!

We will be offering free snowmobile specific avalanche education this year. To schedule a talk and or a field day please call 801-231-2170.

The information in this advisory is from the U.S. 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 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 23, 2003.

Thanks for calling!