Avalanche — Western Uinta Mountains, Utah

2013-01-18 · Western Uinta Mountains, Utah

Event narrative

A family was out for a day of snowmobiling in the Uinta Mountains, when they decided to take a break for lunch in a wide open basin on the West Fork of the Duchesne River. The kids walked to a edge of a ridge to see over the side when the ledge gave way, catching three of the children in an avalanche, and burying two of them. The two boys were eventually dug out of the snow and carried by helicopter to a local hospital, but they passed away that evening due to their injuries.

Wider weather episode

Two boys were killed in an avalanche in the Uinta Mountains during a snowmobile trip with their family.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 429868. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.