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, March 17, 2004 and it’s 7:30 a.m.

Current conditions:

Under clear skies, current temperatures at most mountaintop locations are in the mid 20’s. Winds are out of the northwest with hourly averages in the 20’s and gusts in the low 40’s along the highest peaks. While the lower elevation trailheads are beginning to feel the brunt of our recent meltdown, up high the riding and turning conditions remain quite good. On the sunny slopes there are plenty of smooth, supportable crusts that turn into corn snow as the sun softens the snows surface. And believe or not, you will still find patches of recrystalized powder on steep, wind-sheltered slopes.

Avalanche Conditions:

The combination of clear skies and cold temperatures overnight has given the snowpack another good solid refreeze.

But you’d better get after it in the next day or two, because we’re looking at the possibility of record warm temperatures by the weekend.

As is the case this time of year, early starts and exits are the ticket. If you’re after corn, follow the sun around as it softens the snows surface. Start on the east facing aspects, and then move to southeast, south, southwest, and finally west facing slopes for an exit. Timing is everything, so if you find yourself sinking much past your ankles in wet, sloppy snow it’s time to either move onto another aspect or get off the snow entirely and head for the barn. Roller balls careening down the slope are another good indicator that the snow is starting to heat up. Once the surface snow turns into uncohesive mush the chance for wet avalanches will increase. Remember the sun is high in the sky and it’s beginning to bake the north facing slopes at mid and lower elevations as well. As the day heats up you’ll want to get off of and out from under all steep sun-exposed slopes. Terrain traps such as gullies and steep road cuts should be avoided, especially late in the day.

Looking into the crystal ball, we will see increasing temperatures over the next few days and there’s a possibility of non-freezing nights beginning as early as Thursday. If this pans out the snowpack will get cranky. I’d suspect we could see some large, dangerous, wet slab avalanches especially in steep terrain where the snowpack has remained shallow and weak this season. If you’re getting out on the snow in the next couple of days keep a close eye on the temperatures. Should we go several nights without a solid refreeze, be aware of a rising avalanche danger.

Bottom Line:

The avalanche danger is generally LOW this morning. The danger may rise to MODERATE on all steep slopes at mid and lower elevations, and steep sun-exposed slopes up high, with daytime heating. Human triggered avalanches will be possible as the snow heats up.

Mountain Weather:

A dry, northwesterly flow will persist today and we should see partly cloudy skies, warm temperatures, and moderate westerly winds. Highs today at 10,000’ will be near 30 degrees and at 8,000’ in the mid 40’s. Overnight lows will dip into the mid 20’s. Winds will generally be out of the west at speeds of 15-25 mph with a few gusts in the mid 30’s along the highest ridges. For both Thursday and Friday a mild southwest flow begins to influence our weather and under partly cloudy skies, highs will creep into the mid 30’s at 10,000’ and mid 50’s at 8,000’.

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, Mar.20, 2004.

Thanks for calling.