Lawinenlagebericht

Salt Lake

Veröffentlicht am Dec 12, 2025gültig bis Dec 13, 2025Utah Avalanche Center

Lawinengefahr

Hochgebirge
Waldgrenze
Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 8 months ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

A pockety MODERATE avalanche danger exists on some steep west to north to east facing slopes above about 9000 feet for triggering a 1-2 foot thick slab that fails on our old Oct/Nov facets. Exercise caution in this terrain. The danger for wet avalanches will rise to MODERATE on many slopes today. Wet sluffs and possibly wet slabs will be likely in the coming days.

Lawinenprobleme

Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Hochgebirge
Waldgrenze
Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
Wahrscheinlichkeit
Unlikely
Größe
2
A persistent weak layer (PWL) of October and November facets makes up the base of the snowpack on west-north-east facing slopes at the mid and upper elevations. In these areas, it is unlikely, but not impossible, to trigger an avalanche 1-2 feet deep and 100 feet wide. Cracking and collapsing are become less common and snow tests hint at slow stabilization, yet persistent weak layers come by their name honestly. It is true that in some areas, the snowpack has warmed and become isothermal and this may end up being a good thing...but facets are facets and it's just part of their character: they are just hard to trust. The last reported avalanche in this layering was last Sunday.

Dave Kelly went out to look at last Saturday's avalanche in the East Bowl of Silver Fork and found a slowly stabilizing snowpack. We agree that the structure remains poor and we are not ready to proclaim it healed or dormant. His observation can be found HERE...and a photo of the snow structure is below. I'd still recommend caution if you're traveling through steep terrain with this poor structure.
Loose Wet
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Hochgebirge
Waldgrenze
Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
Wahrscheinlichkeit
Possible
Größe
2
Wet sluffs, wet slabs, and natural glide avalanches will start to become a problem today through early next week. I've always felt uncomfortable forecasting wet avalanches and feel even less comfortable forecasting wet avalanches in mid-December. My recommendation - to keep it simple - is to pull the calendar off the wall and just observe what you're seeing and note how it feels under your feet. If you're seeing wet rollerballs and loose point releases and/or the snow starts to feel punchy and unconsolidated, head for a different aspect or low angle terrain.

Full depth glide avalanches can be expected in the usual terrain of Mill B South, Broads, and Stairs Gulch of BCC and in the upper reaches of Porter Fork in MCC.

Recent Activity

There were no new avalanches reported from the backcountry yesterday, although we did get reports of rollerballs, pinwheels, and some very minor wet loose sluffs.

Snow and Weather

Over the years, I've written about a snowpack only a mother could love...or a snowpack that only the great Russian novelists could compose, but boy this might take the cake. The snotel map below helps to tell the tale: (and this is water; I shudder to think what we are for snowfall.)

Brighton snotel: 49%

Snowbird snotel: 63%

Timp snotel: 38%

Ben Lomond: 96% (and it's gotta be because my NRCS pal Logan Jamieson is shoveling snow on top of the site)

Skies are clear, winds are moderate from the west-northwest, and temperatures are slightly inverted, with lows in the low 30s up high, the low to mid-20s down low.

For today, we'll see sunny skies, light to moderate winds from the northwest, and temps again soaring into the mid-40s in the mountains. We'll see mild weather through at least the weekend, with free air temps at 700mb (~10,000') spiking to +6C (43°F) over the weekend. There is some glimmer of hope early next week as the ridge of high pressure begins to flatten, allowing for a more westerly flow. There is some chance of a ripple driving through mid-week, but rain/snow lines would be fairly high and accompanied by strong winds. I still have my eye on the Solstice.

Skiing and riding conditions are what they are: rock hard coral until it softens with sun and daytime warming; stop-and-go mashed potatoes after that. And that's where there is snow. Coverage in the upper Cottonwoods is 1-2 feet up high and dirt to 10 inches at the trailheads. The PC ridgeline hosts 8-16 inches up high.

For a look at the past week, check out our just published Week in Review.

General Announcements

This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. 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.

Observations and Avalanches

Backcountry Emergency Procedures