Forecast for the Skyline Area Mountains

Brett Kobernik
Issued by Brett Kobernik on
Tuesday morning, December 20, 2022
The avalanche danger is rated at CONSIDERABLE again today.
Chances for triggering an avalanche are becoming less likely but consequences remain high.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Special Announcements
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Weather and Snow
Current Conditions: Monday was yet another stunning day to be in the mountains with clear skies, temperatures in the low 20s and light to moderate speed westerly wind. Riding conditions remain excellent in many locations. Clouds have moved in and the west wind has slowed. Overnight temperatures were in the upper teens.
Mountain Weather: We'll see cloudy skies today with temperatures getting into the mid 20s. Wind will blow from the southwest and most likely increase in speed a bit. A storm system will move through northern Utah on Wednesday and brush our region bringing a chance for snow. Accumulations look pretty light and I'm not expecting much more than a trace to an inch or two. It's going to get breezy into Thursday with pretty strong northwest wind. Another minor storm will move through Friday and might bring another few inches of snow. A more potent system is advertised for next week.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
The November Persistent Weak Layer of sugary facets (DETAILS HERE) is still our biggest threat in the backcountry. However, conditions are not as sensitive as they were a few days ago. Triggering an avalanche is becoming less likely as time goes on. Keep in mind that the weak layer is still down there in the snowpack and is still capable of producing dangerous avalanches. We really need some more snow to continue to compact and stabilize this weak layer. I personally continue to avoid slopes steeper than 30˚ until I am satisfied that the snowpack is completely stable.
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.