Uintas Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Craig Gordon

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

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BOTTOM LINE

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


Danger Rose Tutorial

At and above treeline fresh wind drifts will be sensitive to the weight of a rider. You’ll find a Level 2 (MODERATE) avalanche danger on steep wind drifted slopes and human triggered avalanches are possible in terrain facing the north half of the compass. Be aware that winds are expected to increase throughout the day and the danger will be on the rise. By days end expect to find a Level 3 (CONSIDERABLE) danger on steep wind loaded slopes and human triggered avalanches will be probable. Also, be sure to give the monster cornices a wide berth.

Our deep slab issue hasn't gone away. There is a Level 2 (MODERATE) avalanche danger associated with this persistent problem child. While the chances of triggering a deep slab avalanche are isolated, the consequences are very severe.

A Level 1 (LOW) avalanche danger exists out of the wind, on low elevation, low angle slopes.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

Skies cleared out yesterday, providing beautiful riding for those of you lucky enough to get out for a late afternoon dusk patrol. The range picked up about a foot of new snow since Wednesday. Overnight, winds switched to the southwest and are blowing 15-25 mph in advance of the next system, currently in Northern Nevada. Temperatures bottomed out in the single digits and low teens, so it’ll be crisp as you head out the door, but excellent riding and turning conditions await and we’ve got some of the best coverage we’ve seen in years.

RECENT ACTIVITY

Last week’s wind and snow produced several avalanches around the big peaks near Bald Mountain. Our old nemesis, the weak snow underneath the January rain crust was reactivated, resulting in an especially deep slide peeling off of a steep, rocky, unsupported slope just below Haystack Peak. Click here for more details.

THREAT #1
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

This morning you’ll find fresh wind drifts along the leeward side of upper elevation ridges and these will be in the manageable category. They’re manageable because they tend to predictably break at or below our sled, skis, or board. Winds are forecast to increase throughout the day and I expect the drifts to become more widespread and more sensitive to the weight of a rider as the day wares on. There’s plenty of new snow for the wind to whip into sensitive slabs, so be sure to re-evaluate your terrain choices and be on your toes, especially late in the day when you’re tired and headed back to the rig.

THREAT #2
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

Each time the wind blows or we receive a substantial amount of snow or water, the range experiences at least one large natural slide that breaks below the January rain crust. Well, the Uinta’s never seem to fail us in that regard and this week was no different. After last week’s raging winds a huge avalanche on the hanging snowfield just below Haystack Peak broke very deeply, creating a large and destructive slide. Of course no one would be riding in this type of terrain, but with the solid, “go anywhere” snowpack we have right now, we can get into steep, rocky terrain that has similar snowpack characteristics. While the chances of triggering an avalanche that breaks deep and wide are isolated, the consequences will be devastating and quite possibly unsurvivable. Remember- when in doubt of the snowpack tone your slope angles down and match the terrain with the consequences of triggering a slide.

THREAT #3
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 12 hours.

Cornices are huge, undercut, and unpredictably breaking much further back than you might expect. In addition, you can trigger a deep, dangerous slide as the added weight of a huge block of snow trundles down the slope. You’ll definitely want to give these monsters the respect they deserve and avoid messing around or near them.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

After a morning break in the action, snow develops again this afternoon in a moist southwest flow ahead of the next cold front. Daytime high temperatures reach into the low 30’s and overnight lows dip into the teens as a cold front crosses the area shortly after midnight. Southerly winds ramp up throughout the day and should be gusting into the low 50’s by late afternoon. Snow should begin to stack up late in the day as well and 6” looks like a good bet by Sunday morning. Snow redevelops Sunday afternoon and increases Sunday night into early Monday with the next storm.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted, but will be updated by 7:00 AM Sunday, Mar. 27th, 2011.

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

The western Uinta advisory program is going full tilt and forecasts will be issued by 7:00 AM on Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and all holidays.

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.