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

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. Today is Wednesday, February 4, 2004 and it’s 7:30 a.m.

Current conditions:

The western Uintas got clobbered yesterday with some of the finest, ultra-light density snow the state has to offer. Snow densities averaged around 5% and the southern parts of the region really benefited from the unusual southeast flow. Snow totals are as follows; 10” at Daniels Summit, 16” along the Duchesne Ridge, 18” at Trial Lake, and 20” at Mirror Lake. Further north into Thousand Peaks and Upper Chalk Creek new snow depths averaged in the 8”-10” range. Skies are mostly cloudy and light snow is still falling over most of the region. Winds are light and out of the northwest blowing at speeds of 5-15 mph along the ridges. Current 10,000’ temperatures are in the low teens.

Avalanche Conditions:

Yesterday certainly ranks up there with one of the best days of the year as in your face powder skiing and over-the-hood powder riding were par for the course. If you’re looking for an encore performance, be aware this storm was location and elevation dependent. The lower elevations really got skunked on this one and below about 9,000’ in elevation only 2”-4” of new snow has fallen.

It’s a bit of a complicated pattern out there this morning and you’ll really need to be on your toes particularly if you’re getting into steep, upper elevation terrain, where there’s a foot or more of new snow. There are two distinct types of avalanche conditions to be aware of today. First off, steep upper elevation slopes were very sensitive and sluffing naturally early yesterday and with more additional snow overnight I think they’ll be active today as well. In addition, the new snow was quite reactive to the added weight of a person. Slope cuts were producing large sluffs that entrained a lot of snow and these avalanches were running fast and far, producing small dust clouds as they descended the slope and piling up more snow than you might expect. Terrain traps such as gullies should be avoided today where one these monster sluffs could bury you deeply.

Secondly, in the beginning phases of the storm, southeasterly winds were strong enough to create shallow soft slabs in some unusual locations. Today you’ll want to be on the lookout for wind drifts that would have formed on the leeward side of ridges as well as around terrain features such as chutes, gullies, and sub-ridges.

If you’re getting into steep, upper elevation terrain where there’s an abundance of new snow you’ll need to utilize your safe travel skills today. Ride or ski a slope one at a time, have an escape route planned and discuss this with your partners, and get out of the way and into a safe location at the bottom of the slope. As always have a beacon, shovel, and probe and know how to use these rescue tools.

Bottom Line:

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today at upper elevations where there is a foot or more of new snow, on all slopes steeper than about 35 degrees, especially those with recent deposits of wind-drifted snow. Human triggered avalanches are probable and natural avalanches are possible.

At mid elevations, which received less snow and wind, the avalanche danger is MODERATE today on all slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Human triggered avalanches are possible.

At low elevations the avalanche danger is generally LOW.

Mountain Weather:

A cold, moist weather system will continue to shift east over the region today giving us one last gasp of moisture and we can expect another 3”-5” of snow before it’s all said and done. Skies will be mostly cloudy and temperatures cold with highs at 10,000’ near 15 degrees and at 8,000’ near 20 degrees. Overnight lows will be near 10 degrees. Winds should remain fairly light, out of the north and northwest, at speeds of 5-15 mph along the ridges. Thursday looks to be mostly cloudy with the possibility of a snow shower or two and temperatures will similar to today. A break in the action is slated for Friday with another system sliding into the region for the weekend.

General Information:

We can always use snow and avalanche information and your snowpack and avalanche observations could help to save someone’s life. If you see or trigger an avalanche give us a call at 801-231-2170 or 1-800-662-4140.

Also, if you’d like to schedule a free avalanche awareness talk and/or field day give us a call at 801-524-5304.

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 Saturday, Feb.7, 2004.

Thanks for calling.