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

In the wind zone at upper elevations pockets of Level 3 (CONSIDERABLE) avalanche danger exist for both manageable fresh wind drifts and for deeper slides in terrain where a strong slab overlays a thin, weak snowpack. Human triggered avalanches are likely on steep wind drifted slopes, especially those with an easterly component to their aspect.

At mid elevations a Level 2 (MODERATE) avalanche danger will be found and human triggered avalanches are possible on all steep wind drifted slopes.

A Level 1 (LOW) avalanche danger will be found on low angle slopes and at lower elevations which received less snow and wind.


CURRENT CONDITIONS

Skies cleared late last night in the wake of yesterday’s underwhelming storm system which delivered 6” of new snow to the terrain surrounding the North Slope. Snow totals are about half that the further south you travel. Temperatures are in single digits and winds are west-northwesterly blowing 15-25 mph along the high ridges. You won’t be hard pressed to find excellent riding and turning conditions today.


RECENT ACTIVITY

On Friday, three sledders riding on private property without permission triggered a hard slab avalanche on an upper elevation west facing slope near Windy Peak yesterday morning. The riders were all on the slope at the same time and came out unscathed. Unfortunately, they didn’t stop to tell others around them and an unnecessary search took place.

Thanks to the quick response of Park City Powdercats who needlessly had to shut down their operation and perform an unnecessary search of the avalanche debris.

No matter what the circumstances… if you trigger a slide let others in the area know you’re good to go so they don’t risk their lives and resources chasing a mystery!

Also, huge thanks to Kendall, Matt, and Ian for the great observations this week. Click here to view.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

This is the kind of avalanche dragon we're dealing with. On Thursday, this 3'-5' deep slide was triggered in Racetrack Bowl. The avalanche broke about 30' above the rider and failed on weak sugary snow near the ground. All came out uninjured and on top, but this was a close call for sure.

Nothing has changed on this front and the recent sled triggered avalanches clearly demonstrates you just need to stumble onto the right combination of strong snow over weak snow. It’s amazing we’re still talking about weak snow near the ground and here it is the middle of February. Our snowpit stability tests continue to produce failures on weak snow near the ground. All you need to do is find the right combination of a strong slab resting over a thin weak section of the snowpack in order to rile the weak layer and trigger a dangerous avalanche. While chances of this occurring are isolated, the results would be devastating. The most likely terrain you’d encounter this condition is steep, upper elevation, rocky terrain, especially on slopes facing the north half of the compass.


THREAT #2

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

West and northwest winds bumped up into the 20’s and 30’s midday Sunday, forming sensitive drifts along the leeward side of upper elevation ridges. Fat and rounded in their appearance, today’s slabs are pockety and manageable, breaking at or below your skis, board, or sled.


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

High pressure returns to the region for a brief time today giving us clearing skies with temperatures climbing into the 20’s. West and northwesterly wind increase late in the day, gusting into the 40’s along the high ridges. Snow develops tonight into Tuesday and a quick hitting system gives us an additional 6” by tomorrow afternoon. A stronger storm is slated to impact the region late Wednesday.


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, February 22nd.

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


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.