Uintas Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Craig Gordon

BOTTOM LINE

Danger by aspect and elevation on slopes approaching 35° or steeper.
(click HERE for tomorrow's danger rating)


Danger Rose Tutorial

While the avalanche danger is generally LOW, slabs formed along the leeward side of upper elevation ridges may continue to be sensitive to the additional weight of a person today. These will be isolated to terrain above treeline with an easterly componant to the aspect.


CURRENT CONDITIONS

 

A moist northerly flow means one more morning of Seattle-like weather is on tap for us. Skies are mostly cloudy, temperatures mild and there are reports of a few lingering snow showers in the area. Yesterday’s damp, misty snow didn’t add up to much, just an inch or so at the upper elevations. Winds remained pretty active overnight, averaging 15-25 mph along the ridges with gusts in the 40’s near the high peaks. Current temperatures are in the upper 20’s at 10,000’ and low 30’s at the trailheads. Total snow depths remain pretty grim, right around 14”. There's barely enough base to even ride on grassy slopes and our rock filled terrain is absolutely out of the question.


RECENT ACTIVITY

No avalanche activity reported or observed.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

 

Our early season snowpack is falling apart and we’re developing plenty of weak sugary facets both near the ground and at the snow surface. Of course, this doesn’t bode well for us once it starts snowing or the wind blows and a slab develops on top of this mess. Speaking of wind, west and northwest winds have been blowing since Friday night, forming shallow hard slabs along the leeward side of upper elevation ridgelines, peaks and gullies. Today you’ll want to look for and avoid any fresh deposit of wind drifted snow, especially if it appears fat and sounds hollow like a drum. While isolated to a small portion of the terrain out there, these fresh wind drifts will be sensitive to the additional weight of a person. Today’s avalanches are mostly shallow and manageable but remember- going for a ride in even a small avalanche this time of year and slamming into a trauma inducing rock or stump will definitely ruin your holiday weekend.


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

 

A ridge of high pressure off the west coast is gradually moving east and our messy weather should be exiting soon as well with clearing skies by this afternoon. Highs today at 10,000’ will be near freezing and at 8,000’ in the mid to upper 30’s. Overnight lows under clearing skies will be in the low 20’s. Northwest winds remain active throughout the day at the upper elevations, gusting into the 40’s, before calming down late this evening. It looks like sunny and warm weather for Monday, before a quick moving storm races through the region Tuesday. This doesn’t look like a big snow producer, maybe 3”-6” by Wednesday morning. After this quick hitter high pressure builds for the mid to latter portions of the week. The computer models hint at a pattern change for next weekend. I’ll have a better handle on that news for the mid week update.


GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Remember- your observations help to save other riders lives. So if you see or trigger any avalanches please let me know what your seeing. You can reach me at 801-231-2170 or craig@utahavalanchecenter.org

While it's quiet, now is a great time to schedule a free avalanche awareness class for your group or club. You can reach me at 801-231-2170 or craig@utahavalanchecenter.org for more details.

The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted. I'll update this advisory by 7:00 am on Wednesday Dec. 3, 2008.


This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done.  This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.


This advisory provided by the USDA Forest Service, in partnership with:

The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, Utah Division of Emergency Management, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake Unified Fire Authority and the friends of the La Sal Avalanche Center. See our Sponsors Page for a complete list.