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.

Also, we're trying to sort out some issues with our Uinta weather station network and hope to have those ironed out early this week and back online for you to view.


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, especially those facing the north half of the compass. While more the exception than the rule, human triggered avalanches breaking into old snow are still possible, particularly on slopes that had pre-existing October snow prior to last weekends big storm.

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

Clouds drifted into the region overnight as a low pressure system spins to our south. No new snow has fallen in the past 24 hours and temperatures are in the mid to upper 20’s. South and southeast winds bumped up early this morning and they’re blowing 15-25 mph along the ridges with gusts in the upper 40’s and low 50’s along the highest peaks. Riding and turning conditions remain limited to rock free roads and low angle meadows.


RECENT ACTIVITY

The snowpack continues to produce collapses and loud whoomphs, but no new avalanches to report. Click here to view Ted's great observation from the Whitney Basin yesterday.

Click here for recent observations from around the range.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

This morning’s spike in the winds formed a new batch of wind drifts along the leeward side of upper elevation ridges and these will be sensitive to the weight of a rider today. Easy to detect by their rounded, chalky appearance and found mostly on upper elevation slopes facing the north half of the compass, today’s slabs are also easy to avoid. Simply steer clear of steep slopes with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.


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. The shallow snowpack is gaining strength, but the snow that fell in early October has grown weak and sugary over time. It's most problematic 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. Granted, avalanches breaking into snow near the ground are getting more difficult to trigger as the snowpack adjusts to Friday's storm, but once initiated they'll 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. (Check out this video here to view what we're dealing with).


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

Storm energy slides south of the region today and tonight, but we still might see a light snow shower or two as a result. Southerly winds along the ridges continue to blow in the 20’s and 30’s before diminishing tonight. High temperatures don’t vary much from where we’re at this morning and overnight low dip into the upper teens. Ridging builds for midweek and we should see clearing skies and warming temperatures. It still looks like some kind of storm develops towards the latter half of the week, though right now it’s a roll of the dice as to the track. We’ll have a better handle for the midweek update.


GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted, but will be updated by 7:00 AM Wednesday, November 23rd.

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.