Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Uintas Area Mountains Issued by Trent Meisenheimer for Sunday - December 13, 2015 - 4:28am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is MODERATE where human triggered avalanches are possible in steep wind drifted terrain at or above tree line on all aspects of the compass. Out of the wind effected terrain the avalanche danger is LOW.




avalanche watch

THE FOREST SERVICE UTAH AVALANCHE CENTER IN SALT LAKE CITY HAS ISSUED A BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WATCH.

* TIMING...STARTING MONDAY MORNING, DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.

* AFFECTED AREA...ALL THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL UTAH, INCLUDING THE BEAR RIVER RANGE, THE WESTERN UINTAS AND THE WASATCH PLATEAU.

* AVALANCHE DANGER...THE DANGER IS EXPECTED TO RISE SIGNIFICANTLY WITH THE ADDITIONAL SNOW AND WIND.

* IMPACTS...DANGEROUS HUMAN TRIGGERED AVALANCHES ARE EXPECTED ON A VARIETY OF ASPECTS AND ELEVATIONS.

special announcement

current conditions

It's going to be a cold start to the morning in the Uinta basin today. Current temperatures are in the single digits with some areas in the low teens. The winds have picked up in the overnight hours and are now blowing out of the southwest at 15 mph and gusting into the 30's along the more exposed terrain.

The new snow from Thursday's storm did wonders to the snow surface and added a touch of white throughout the range. However, early season conditions still exist, leaving most riders to the road or very grassy terrain.

Check out Ted's excellent observation found here and his new video from yesterday's field work in the Whitney Basin.

GOPR0024 from ted scroggin on Vimeo.

Recent trip reports and observations are found here.

recent activity

No new avalanches have been reported from the backcountry.

See or trigger an avalanche? Shooting cracks? Hear a collapse? It's simple. Go here to fill out an observation.

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

Thursday storm left 5-8 inches of new snow throughout the range with most of the snow falling straight out of the sky. This morning the winds are already on the move and will likely increase as the day wears on. This will take our light fluffy new snow and surely blow it around making sensitive new wind slabs in the more exposed terrain.

You will likely find these wind slabs on the north half of the compass at or above tree line. If you find yourself in steep wind drifted terrain be on the lookout for snow that looks rounded, smooth and wavy.

wind slab from Trent Meisenheimer on Vimeo.

Click here to view more Uinta observations and trip reports.

Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Slab avalanches today will be unlikely but not impossible. If you are getting into steeper north facing terrain today I would approach it with caution. As the approaching storm moves in later in the day the possibility of triggering an avalanche that breaks into older snow will become more prevalent.

weather

We should see rising temperatures and increasing winds throughout the day. A cold pacific storm is knocking on the door and enters the mountains of northern Utah later this afternoon and into the early evening hours. Snow is expected tonight through Tuesday and periods of heavy snowfall can be anticipated throughout the storm.

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]. To register for the first in our series of on-the-snow sled specific classes you can register here.

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.

The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted, but be will be updated by 7:00 AM on Monday, December 14th.