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

At mid and upper elevations the avalanche danger is MODERATE (Level 2) on steep wind drifted slopes and human triggered avalanches are possible. Be aware that within this elevation band a CONSIDERABLE (Level 3) avalanche danger also exists, especially in steep, rocky terrain, facing the north half of the compass. While not widespread and pockety in nature, dangerous human triggered avalanches are still probable.

A LOW (Level 1) avalanche danger exists in lower elevation terrain, especially on sun exposed slopes and those not effected by wind.


CURRENT CONDITIONS

A weak storm system sliding into the region is bringing clouds with little snow. Temperatures are in the mid 20's at 8,000' and low teens at 10,000'. West-southwest winds have been pretty consistent, averaging 15 mph with gusts near 25 mph along the high peaks. Sunday's storm was a sleeper, stacking up nearly a foot of new snow at the upper elevations. Riding and turning conditions vastly improved the past couple o' weeks, though in general the snowpack remains rather thin for this time of year.


RECENT ACTIVITY

Yesterday, Ted spotted a few shallow, natural soft slabs in upper elevation, leeward terrain. For more details click here.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

While the snowpack appears to be healing and getting stronger overtime, in general the Uinta snowpack remains relatively shallow and weak for this time of year, especially in steep, rocky terrain. As a matter of fact, that's exactly the type of terrain where you could still trigger a deep, dangerous avalanche which breaks into weak layers of snow near the ground. While this type of slide is getting harder to trigger, the consequences remain quite severe. If you're getting into steep, mid and upper elevation terrain today, continue carefully analyzing the snowpack and remember- we trigger deep dangerous avalanches from thin portions of the snowpack, not where it's deep and strong. Likely trigger points are around bushes, rocks and breakovers.


THREAT #2

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

Newly formed wind drifts along the leeward side of ridges are mostly manageable, breaking at our feet or just below us, but could entrain a little more snow than you might expect. Get some solid information about the terrain you want to ride in by tweaking small test slopes and cut banks. Utilize slope cuts to see how the snow is reacting, rather than blindly center-punching the hillside.


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

A fairly wimpy looking storm brushes northern Utah today, giving us partly to mostly cloudy skies and a few light snow showers. We might be able to squeak 2"-4" out of this by Thursday morning. Today's temperatures should be rather mild with highs at 8,000' in the upper 30's and at 10,000' near freezing. Overnight lows will be in the mid teens. Winds remain reasonable, blowing 15-25 mph out of the west and southwest. A lull in the action on Thursday and Friday before a moist, unsettled pattern sets up for the weekend.


GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted, but will be updated by 7:00 AM Saturday February 6, 2010.

If you’re getting out and about and trigger an avalanche or see anything interesting please drop us an email at craig@utahavalanchecenter.org or call 801-231-2170


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.