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Forecast for the Uintas Area Mountains

Mark Staples
Issued by Mark Staples on
Sunday morning, February 18, 2024
The snowpack is deep with incredible riding conditions, but the avalanche situation is complex.
  • Winds from a variety of directions plus more snow and more wind today will make slabs of wind drifted snow the main concern.
  • Several weak layers can be found under new snow that has falling since the start of February and can also cause a slab avalanche.
  • Lastly, an unlikely scenario but one with severe consequences would be a large, hard slab avalanches breaking on old weak layers near the ground
For these reasons, the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above treeline where human triggered slides are likely. Near treeline the danger is MODERATE as well as below treeline on northerly and east facing slopes. A LOW danger exists on slopes below treeline facing south and west.
Tons of people have been out riding safely and avoiding avalanches. The Uintas are loaded with slopes less than 30 degrees in steepness that aren't steep enough to slide and are always a great option. With the complexity in the snowpack right now, riding these low angle slopes is my main strategy to avoid avalanches.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Weather and Snow
This morning, temperatures range from the mid-teens to mid 20s F. Winds began ramping up from the south and southeast with the approaching storm and are blowing 15-29 mph gusting to 40 mph.
Today, 2-4 inches of snow should fall this morning before the storm moves out of the area this afternoon. Temperatures should only warm a few degrees and generally be in the mid 20s F. It will remain windy except winds will blow more from the west-southwest this afternoon.
This week will remain stormy. Tonight and Monday morning will have a break in snowfall before snowfall returns and lasts through Thursday. By the end of the week there could be a foot or two of new snow. And then! Friday and next weekend may be clear and sunny.
Snow conditions in northern Utah are the best in the country. Total snow depths in the Uintas 4-6 feet (12-16" of water). Since February 1st, the Uintas have gotten snow containing 3-5" of water. Sunny aspects should have a bit of an ice crust this morning, but all other slopes should have great powder.
Recent Avalanches
Avalanches aren't ripping out everywhere but enough are happening to keep our attention. Yesterday, Michael H. spotted two slides on a SE aspect above Long Lake (blurry photo below) which are quite suspicious because an ice crust with small facets on top of it (buried on Feb 13th) has been found in many places in northern Utah and caused quite a few slides in the Wasatch yesterday breaking 10" to 2' deep. Winds alone led to avalanches like one spotted by Chad and Kirk on Double Hill (second photo).
DON'T FORGET about two very large slides breaking near the ground. One natural slide was found in the Wolf Creek area (3-4' deep and 200' wide), and another snowmobile-triggered slide in upper Chalk Creek that buried a rider.
For all Uinta observations and recent avalanche activity click HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Fresh slabs of wind drifted snow will be the most likely avalanche to trigger today. Winds have been blowing around the compass and transporting snow. This morning some winds are coming from the southeast and then will blow from the west-southwest layer today. During the last two days winds have also come from the northwest and northeast. These avalanches are most likely to be found above treeline on any wind loaded slope.
Avalanche Problem #2
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
All the new snow in the last two weeks is well bonded and stable on many slopes and riding conditions are great. However, last weekend near Smith and Morehouse and yesterday near Iron Mine Mountain, I have found buried layers of surface hoar about 3 feet deep on northely facing slopes. We haven't gotten any reports of avalanches on this layer, but I don't trust it (photo below showing a strip in my snowpit wall).
Also, a brief window of clear weather formed an ice crust with some facets above it that was buried the night before Valentine's Day and is now about a foot deep. This layer may have caused the two natural avalanches near Long Lake, and it has caused quite a few slides in the Wasatch. Southeast facing slopes seem to be the bull's eye where this layer exists but east and west may have it too.
Soft slabs of new snow may avalanche 10" to 3' deep on these layers.
Avalanche Problem #3
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Old layers of faceted snow from this fall and also in December can still produce a hard slab avalanche like one last weekend in upper Chalk Creek (photo below). Even though the odds of triggering one of these slides have gone way down, the consequences remain severe. Big, steep, rocky terrain with both thick, wind loaded snow as well as shallow spots are the places where once of these slides could be triggered.
Additional Information
The Uinta weather station network was upgraded this summer and all that real-time info is found HERE. Simply click on "western Uinta" tab and then "weather stations" tab.
We are always looking for snow and avalanche observations or just general riding conditions. So... if you see something, say something. You can reach me directly at craig@utahavalanchecenter.org or 801-231-2170.
Also, if you're looking for more avy education opportunities for yourself, your crew, or your club please don't hesitate to reach out to me and we'll find a presentation, class, or clinic for ya!
General Announcements
CLICK HERE FOR MORE GENERAL INFO AND FAQ
Issued at 0700 on Sunday, February 18th this forecast will be updated by 0700 Monday, February 19th, 2024.
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.
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