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.

special Avalanche ADVISORY

monday January 10, 2005

Good morning, this is Craig Gordon with the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center with a special avalanche and mountain weather advisory for the western Uinta Mountains. Today is Monday, January 10, 2005 and it’s 7:00 a.m.

Announcements:

We’re experiencing some technical difficulties with the Moffit Peak weather station. Hopefully I’ll have those worked out once the storm cycle ends. Thanks for your patience.

For recent avalanche photos click here.

Current Conditions:

Southerly winds have calmed down in the past 24 hours and are now averaging 15 mph with gusts in the mid 20’s. Temperatures have been slowly rising and currently they’re in the upper 20’s at 10,000’ and near freezing at 8,000’. Overnight, 6” of new snow has fallen. There is a winter storm warning in effect so this break in the action should be pretty short-lived.

Avalanche Conditions:

Avalanches triggered on steep wind-loaded slopes today have the potential to be large, dangerous, and possibly unsurvivable. If you’re getting out on the snow you’ll need to stay off of and out from under any steep slope with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. People without well-developed backcountry route finding, rescue, and avalanche skills should avoid backcountry travel. Recent strong winds have created dense slabs on just about every slope out there and drifted snow in unusual locations. Wind deposits will be much further down the slope than you might expect. Cross loading would have occurred in terrain features such as gullies, even at low elevations. Also some of our weakest snow exists at mid and low elevations and these are the places we usually go to get out of the wind.

Bottom Line:

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today on all steep slopes with recent deposits of wind-drifted snow. Human triggered avalanches are probable and natural avalanches possible.

Remember; even if you’re playing on low angle terrain be aware of steep slopes above and adjacent to you.

Mountain Weather:

A winter storm warning is in effect through Tuesday. Today we should see morning snow showers, becoming heavier by late this afternoon. Another 4”-8” is expected today with an additional 5”-10” tonight. Winds will become strong later in the day and will be blowing 15-25 mph with higher gusts along the ridges. High temperatures at 10,000’ will be in the low 30’s and at 8,000’ near 37 degrees. Overnight lows will be near 28 degrees. A stronger, colder system will move into the region late Tuesday.

General Information:

We’re interested in what you’re seeing especially if you observe or trigger an avalanche. Call 1-800-662-4140, or 801-231-2170, or email to [email protected] or fax to 801-524-6301 and fill us in with all the details.

If you’d like to schedule a free snowmobile specific avalanche 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 Wednesday Jan. 12, 2005.

Thanks for calling!