Uintas Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Craig Gordon

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Through a generous donation by Backcountry.com to our partners the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center we will continue forecasting until April 24th. I will issue weekend updates for the Uintas through Easter Sunday. Thanks for all the great support!


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 a Level 2 (MODERATE) avalanche danger exists and human triggered avalanches are possible on steep wind drifted slopes. In addition, cornices are epically huge and undercut and may break back much further than you might expect. Be sure to steer clear of these huge overhanging boxcars.

While isolated and hard to trigger, a Level 2 (MODERATE) danger exists for human triggered avalanches breaking to the January raincrust. Upper elevation, steep, rocky terrain facing the north half of the compass, should still be considered suspect.


CURRENT CONDITIONS

The recent parade of moist, Pacific weather systems continues to march into the region and this morning we’re waiting for yet another disturbance to swing through the area. Under mostly cloudy skies, temperatures are in the upper teens and low 20’s and southwesterly winds are blowing 10-20 mph along the ridges. Thursday’s quick hitting storm deposited 4” of new snow adding to the 6” that fell on Monday night and Tuesday. Yesterday’s strong sunshine baked lower elevation terrain and southerly aspects, but cold shallow powder will still be found on high elevation north facing slopes.


RECENT ACTIVITY

Thursday’s big winds and new snow resulted in several natural avalanches peeling off the hanging snow fields around Bald Mountain, stacking up impressive piles of debris.

Click here for recent observations from around the range.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

It’s been an active weather week on the eastern front and Thursday’s storm rolled into town with a vengeance. Southerly winds raged all day long and into the night, averaging 40 mph with gusts in the 70’s along the high ridges. The strong winds coupled with new snow created dense slabs that ran naturally during the storm and needed a little coaxing yesterday to get things rolling. While most of these have settled out, there may still be a rogue slab or two, especially along the leeward side of upper elevation ridges, which will still be sensitive to the weight of a rider. If you haven’t been out on the snow for awhile, tweak small test slopes like road cuts that have little consequence and see how they react before center-punching your favorite bowl or chute.


THREAT #2

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

I haven’t heard of any avalanches breaking deep into the January raincrust for several weeks now and I’d like to think we’ve finally turned a corner and can put this nemesis to bed. However, this is the time of year we start exploring, getting into steep, crazy terrain we only visit in the spring and my gut tells me steep, rocky, upper elevation terrain facing the north half of the compass should still be considered suspect. While isolated, if you're getting into terrain that has these characteristics, carefully analyze the slope, your escape routes, and think of the consequences of triggering a deep, scary slide.


THREAT #3

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

Cornices are ginormous and will break much further back than you'd expect. In addition, the sudden impact of a huge chunk of snow slamming down on the slope below may trigger a large slide that breaks deep and wide. Your best bet is to completely avoid traveling near these very unpredictable, overhanging pieces of snow.


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

A storm system to the south works its way into the region late in the day and we can expect light snow showers by around dinner time. In the mean time, look for partly to mostly cloudy skies with high temperatures climbing into the low to mid 30’s and overnight lows diving into the upper teens. Winds remain light and variable throughout the day. We may see a lingering snow shower or two for Sunday and then a more potent system works its way into the region late Monday and Tuesday. A foot of snow seems to be a good bet before high pressure builds for midweek.


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, Apr.24th, 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


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.