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Forecast for the Skyline Area Mountains

Brett Kobernik
Issued by Brett Kobernik on
Saturday morning, December 17, 2022
DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS THIS WEEKEND!!
The avalanche danger is rated at CONSIDERABLE again today.
  • Human triggered avalanches 1 to 3 feet deep (or deeper) are likely.
  • Stay off slopes steeper than 30˚.
  • Make sure there is nothing steep above you.
  • Do not travel down in steep gullies and ravines.
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High
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Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Avalanche Bulletin
DANGEROUS AND UNUSUAL AVALANCHE CONDITIONS WILL LAST THROUGH AT LEAST THIS WEEKEND. HEAVY SNOWFALL THIS PAST WEEK HAS CREATED DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS AT ALL ELEVATIONS. DON'T BE LURED BY THE BEAUTIFUL SUNNY SKIES AND FRESH POWDER INTO THINKING AVALANCHE CONDITIONS ARE SAFE WHEN THEY ARE NOT.
DO NOT TRAVEL ON, UNDERNEATH, OR ADJACENT TO SLOPES 30 DEGREES OR STEEPER ON SLOPES FACING NORTHWEST, NORTH, NORTHEAST, AND EAST WHERE TRIGGERING LARGE AND DANGEROUS AVALANCHES IS LIKELY. THIS INCLUDES LOW-ELEVATION FOOTHILLS WHERE AVALANCHES CAN OCCUR NOT FAR FROM PARKING AREAS AND TRAILHEADS.
Weather and Snow
Current Conditions: Skies finally cleared for the most part on Friday with temperatures staying cold. Highs briefly made into the mid teens and dropped back into the single digits overnight. The wind was from the northwest and was fairly light on Friday. It looks like it's picked up speed overnight, at least along the higher ridges.
Mountain Weather: We have a few nice days in store with sunny skies, high temperatures in the low 20s, and light northwest wind. There is a minor weather disturbance for mid week that might add a dusting of snow.
Recent Avalanches
On Friday a snowmobiler was caught in an avalanche and buried to his waist in Ephraim Canyon. He didn't sustain any injuries. The avalanche broke 2 to 3 feet deep down to the November weak layer. The slope faced north and was at 10,100' in elevation.
My partners and I found a large natural avalanche that released naturally during the tail end of the recent storm. It also broke 2 to 3 feet deep into the November weak layer. Seeley Canyon, northeast facing, 10,300'.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
A Persistent Weak Layer that formed in mid November (DETAILS HERE) continues to be a SERIOUS threat. The avalanche activity described above clearly shows that. Riders I've spoken with have experienced collapsing and felt the snowpack drop underneath them. Snow pit tests continue to show very unstable conditions. All the signs of danger are present. The only way to stay safe is to avoid steep slopes until things stabilize.
Additional Information
SKYLINE AVALANCHES & OBSERVATIONS
CAMERAS & WEATHER STATIONS
INSTAGRAM: SKYLINE_AVALANCHE
FACEBOOK: SKYLINE AVALANCHE
FORECAST EMAIL
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General Announcements
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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