Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Uintas Area Mountains Issued by Craig Gordon for Wednesday - January 28, 2015 - 6:20am
bottom line

In general most terrain offers a LOW avalanche danger.

If you're getting into steep, technical terrain, at upper elevations in the wind zone, there may be an old, tired wind slab or two that'll be reactive to the weight of a rider.




special announcement

RESEARCH PROJECT ON UNDERSTANDING TRAVEL BEHAVIOR IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN NEEDS YOU!

Scientists from the Snow and Avalanche Lab at Montana State University are seeking more participants for their project examining decision making and travel in avalanche terrain. Their project aims to collect GPS location information (from your smartphone) and survey responses from backcountry skiers and riders to better understand what types of terrain are used and how decisions are made. Their focus is on backcountry skiers and riders of all abilities and experience.

For more information: www.montana.edu/snowscience/tracks For snowmobilers: www.montana.edu/snowscience/sleds

We just released an exciting, new avy safety video designed specifically for snowmobilers - Knowledge is Powder. https://vimeo.com/113677686

NEW THIS YEAR: You can now receive advisories by email for each region in the state. Go here for details.
current conditions

A weak storm system slid through the region overnight, delivering an inch or two of medium density snow across the range. Temperatures are in the low to mid 20's and southwest winds are blowing 15-25 mph along the high ridges. Riding and turning conditions are hit or miss, but shady, wind sheltered slopes still offer soft, settled snow. Click here for real-time temperatures, snowfall, and winds.

A tale of two winters. Low elevation south and west facing terrain remains thin and brushy...

... whilst the the upper elevation shady slopes still hold a respectable winter coat.

Unfortunately, in between, there's a lot of wind damage from last weeks East and Northeast winds.
recent activity

A wet dribbler peeled off this steep east facing slope during the record warmth on Monday.
Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

A couple inches of snow and a gust or two out of the southwest doesn't add up to much of an avalanche hazard, but the Uinta's are a big place and there may be a lingering drift or two along the leeward side of upper elevation ridges. While mostly manageable in size and depth, if you're in steep, committing terrain, even a small slide can knock you off your feet or roll your machine.
weather

Snow showers linger through the morning, before skies clear later this afternoon as weak high pressure builds. Temperatures climb into the upper 20's and dip into low 20's overnight. Southwest winds diminish as the day wares on. A storm system effects southern Utah late in the work week and we may get in on a little bit of that action with a couple inches of snow late Friday. Clear and warming for late Saturday and Sunday in the wake of this brush-by. There might be a glimmer of hope for snow midweek.
general announcements

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting snow and avalanche conditions.   You can call me directly at 801-231-2170, email [email protected], or email by clicking HERE

This is a great time of year to schedule a free avalanche awareness presentation for your group or club. You can contact me at 801-231-2170 or email [email protected]

Donate to your favorite non-profit –The Utah Avalanche Center. The UAC depends on contributions from users like you to support our work.

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on ebay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your ebay account here and click on ebay gives when you buy or sell.  You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny.

Utah Avalanche Center mobile app - Get your advisory on your iPhone along with great navigation and rescue tools.

The information in this advisory is from the US Forest Service which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

I will update this advisory by 7:00 AM Saturday Jan. 31, 2015.