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Forecast for the Uintas Area Mountains

Craig Gordon
Issued by Craig Gordon on
Saturday morning, January 18, 2025
MODERATE avalanche danger continues today at and above treeline. Becoming pockety and harder to initiate, human triggered avalanches, breaking deeper and wider than you might anticipate are still POSSIBLE, especially in the wind zone on slopes facing northwest through north through southeast. In the more straight-forward and predictably manageable category... a few inches of storm snow coupled with strong winds delivers a round of fresh drifts on steep leeward slopes and human triggered wind slabs are also POSSIBLE, especially in terrain with an southerly component to its orientation.
LOW avalanche danger is found in wind sheltered terrain particularly at lower elevations, like near our trailheads.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
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Extreme
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Special Announcements
Save the date and take a date!
Please join Craig Gordon, that's me, Tuesday January 21st from 6:00-7:30 PM at Alpha Coffee in Cottonwood Heights for a State of the Snowpack presentation. Reserve a spot and find out more deets HERE.
In addition, please join the UAC at Deer Valley on January 30th for the 2nd Annual Blizzard Ball Gala. The night will be full of fun including delicious cuisine, live music, an auction, and presentation by Bruce Tremper. More info found HERE.
Weather and Snow
Nowcast- From the North Slope to the south half of the range, light snow showers overnight delivered a couple inches of very low density snow across the range. Northwest winds blow in the 30's near the high peaks adding quite a bite to temperatures registering in negative territory, creating windchill to -26 degrees along the ridges... ouch! Last nights storm snow helps cushion some of the rugged old snow surfaces and if you can stand the toe-numbing temperatures your best best is to seek out wind sheltered, mid elevation shady slopes.
Forecast- A very cold storm keeps snow showers going through the morning, but I don't expect more than an additional inch or two stacking up. High temperatures barely crack into the teens and overnight lows crater into negative domain. Northwest winds blowing in the 30's near the high peaks are gonna be more than a nuisance, they'll create dangerously cold windchill, so you'll wanna keep an eye on each other today.
Futurecast- Partly sunny skies are on tap for Sunday, though a lingering snow shower isn't out of the question. A frigid blast of air delivers the coldest temperatures of the year with highs barely creeping into the teens. Clear, cold, and calm through midweek.
Recent Avalanches
Most likely cornice triggered, our main man with the Uinta plan, Ted Scroggin, spotted this piece of snow Thursday peeling off a steep wind drifted slope on Double Hill in the Whitney Basin.
You can find trip reports and recent slides from across the range and beyond, here.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
The good news... it feels like the snowpack is getting comfortable in its own skin and attempting to reach a point of equilibrium... not healing, but grasping for balance at the moment. And to me, this means the chances of triggering a deep, dangerous avalanche have decreased slightly, but the consequences remain severe. Suspect terrain I'm steering clear of are steep, rocky slopes, especially where the pack is slightly thinner. Likey trigger points are near bushes or rocks, where I could collapse the slope and knock the legs out from underneath the snow above me.
A frequent flyer (British spelling :) and super legit big mountain, backcountry adventurer, John Climaco visited the very eastern fringes of the western Uinta's and reports a deceivingly weak, sugary mess and adds... "Unfortunately, the whole thing is clearly sitting on some well protected weak layers and the surface facets are sparkling anyplace that’s protected. Note to self: almost any appreciable added water or wind is going to make this a very tricky place to operate indeed." More on John's travels here.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Yesterdays winds were strong and erratic and while not particularly alarming, shallow drifts formed in unusual locations. A few inches of snow overnight helps to camouflage the canvas and that of course complicates the picture in identifying where today's wind drifts are located. But, you know the drill... lose the wind and we lose the problem. Simply seek out wind sheltered, mid and lower elevation terrain and you'll score a great day of riding.
General Announcements
The Uinta weather station network was upgraded this summer and all that real-time info is found here. Simply click on the "Western Uinta" tab and then the "Weather Stations" tab to find all your weather needs.
We are always looking for snow and avalanche observations or just general riding conditions. So... if you see something, say something. You can reach our team directly by contacting: Craig at craig@utahavalanchecenter.org, 801-231-2170, or Andrew at andy@utahavalanchecenter.org, or 860-460-8142.
General Information
This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur. This forecast was issued on Saturday, January 18th at 04:00AM and expires 24 hours after it was issued. We will update the forecast by 0700 AM tomorrow. But, in the meantime reach out to us with questions, or if you see anything in your travels.
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