Uintas Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Craig Gordon

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Plowing on the Mirror Lake Highway is done for the season, but maintenance on Wolf Creek Pass continues. In either case, be aware the Uinta snowpack is notoriously sketchy and much weaker than you might find in the central Wasatch.


BOTTOM LINE

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


Danger Rose Tutorial

In the wind zone a Level 3 (Considerable) avalanche danger exists on steep, upper elevation slopes facing the north half of the compass. Human triggered avalanches are probable, particularly on slopes with recent deposits of wind drifted snow and those that had pre-existing October snow prior to last weekends storm.

At treeline on mid elevation northerly facing slopes, a Level 2 (Moderate) avalanche danger exists and human triggered avalanches are possible on steep wind drifted slopes.

A Level 1 (Low) avalanche danger will be found at lower elevations out of the wind, on southerly facing terrain, and on slopes that had no snow prior to last weekend’s big storm.


CURRENT CONDITIONS

Last nights blast o’ winter was good to the eastern front, rapidly stacking up 9” of snow near Chalk Creek, 7” at Trial Lake, and 6” at Daniels. Skies are mostly cloudy, light snow continues to fall and temperatures are in the upper teens and low 20’s. Winds switched to the west and northwest around 8:00 last night and have become more reasonable, blowing 10-20 mph at most locations, but still gusting into the 40’s along the high ridges. Coverage even at the higher elevations remains pretty thin with total snow depths averaging about two feet or so.

Riding and turning options are quite limited, but there is enough upper elevation snow to take the sled for a road ride or crank out a few turns on low angle, rock free slopes.


RECENT ACTIVITY

No new avalanches to report.

Click here for recent observations from around the region.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

Winds have been nuking the past 24 hours and they’ve been all over the place. (Click here to view Ted's great info from Friday). Gusty southwest, west, and now northwesterly winds have whipped the new snow into sensitive slabs that will react to the additional weight of a rider today. Easy to detect by their rounded, chalky appearance today’s slabs are found on upper elevation terrain facing the north half of the compass. There’s a distinct possibility that once you trigger a fresh drift it will fracture deeper than you might expect, breaking into weak, sugary snow near the ground creating a much larger slide than you bargained for. That doesn’t mean you can’t get out and ride today, but it does mean you gotta tone it down a few notches. Best bet is to avoid steep, wind drifted, upper elevation slopes altogether.


THREAT #2

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

There’s really not that much snow on the eastern front and that’s just the problem. Our shallow snowpack is fragile and the snow that fell in early October has grown weak and sugary over time. Our problem child is found in upper elevation terrain facing the north half of the compass. These are exactly the types of slopes that held early season snow. They remain suspect and should be avoided. Avalanches breaking into snow near the ground will be wider than you might expect, they’ll pack a punch, and they’ll take you for a nasty ride through rocks and stumps barely covered with snow. At the very least you’re looking at a season ending proposition.


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

Expect occasional snow showers this morning, tapering off by afternoon, with a clearing trend on tap. West and northwesterly winds will be a nuisance along the ridges, blowing 20-30 mph with gusts in the mid 40’s. Temperatures warm into the mid 20’s before dipping into the teens overnight. A little brush by on Sunday and Monday produces a slight chance of snow before high pressure and warming temperatures take hold mid week. Another good shot of snow works into the region for Thanksgiving.


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, November 20th.

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

Also, now is a great time to schedule one of our free avalanche awareness presentations for your group or club. Email or call me and we’ll get you booked before things get too crazy.


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.