Avalanche forecast

Salt Lake

Utah Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 7 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The overall avalanche danger is MODERATE at all elevations and aspects for triggering, loose dry, storm slabs, and wind drifted snow avalanches. However, there is a CONSIDERABLE danger at upper elevations for areas that received the most snow, where you're more likely to trigger a much larger avalanche. Seek out wind sheltered terrain that's generally less steep than 32° degrees with clean run-outs. This will drastically reduce your exposure to avalanches and consequences.

The avalanche danger could spike immediately to CONSIDERABLE on sunny slopes if the sun decides to come out this afternoon.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2

    New snow instability is tricky because it tends to stabilize very quickly after the storm calms down. I would expect the new storm snow to stabilize rapidly this morning. However, one should be on guard before committing to any steep terrain. Slope cuts and terrain management skills are a must for today.

    • Use slope cuts (where you move diagonally across a slope in a downward direction from safe point to safe point).
    • As you ride steep terrain keep an eye on your sluff as it could pack a punch. Be sure not to ride above your partners or others in the backcountry.
    • Use small test slope to see how the new snow is behaving and bonding to the old snow surface.
    • Remember that even a small avalanche in radical terrain, drastically increases the consequences.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    3

    Overnight the northwest winds averaged 15-20 mph gusting into the 30's across the upper elevations. This has created fresh wind drifts along the upper elevations that are now buried by the last few inches of fluff that fell this morning. Look for and avoid rounded pillows of wind drifted snow. Cracking is a red flag and shouldn't be ignored. The natural avalanche reported from the Brighton backcountry is a good example of the size of avalanche you could trigger in the wind drifted terrain. This is the problem I would be most concerned with today and the one I would avoid - seek out wind sheltered terrain or areas with generally less than a foot of new snow and enjoy the powder snow where there is a much lower risk.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    3

    This will be the wild card today!!! it's March and the sun is strong. If we see any clearing this morning or afternoon you can expect the steep sunlit slopes to immediately become damp and start producing natural wet loose avalanches. The loose wet snow could pack a punch as much of the southerly facing terrain has slick crusts for it to run on. Keep an eye to the sky and watch the snow surface. If you're seeing roller balls or small point release avalanches on any aspect - it's time to leave or ride in terrain that's under 30° degrees with nothing steep above or adjacent to you.

    Think about your exits today - if your exit is a steep gully or drainage you'll want to give yourself plenty of time to safely pass through if the sun comes out.

Special Announcement

The latest podcast is out! The Wise Ones - A Conversation About Mentorship with Eeva Latosuo and Aleph Johnston-Bloom. LINK

Recent Activity

Yesterday, snow safety teams reported sensitive soft slabs and long running loose dry avalanches that were easily triggered with slope cuts and explosives. All of these avalanches were confined to the new snow and some were large enough to bury a human.

In the backcountry a skier in a steep chute off Mt. Olympus triggered a soft slab avalanche that was 18" deep 35' feet wide that ran 150' downslope. A natural avalanche was reported from the Brighton backcountry on an east facing slope at 10,500' that was 2' feet deep 100' feet wide running 400' feet downslope. Another report came in late that a skier took a ride in a steep north facing chute in Little Cottonwood, traveled 800' down loosing gear. Unknown if injured.

Snow and Weather

Wow - what a storm!!! Drew Hardesty said it best " Under-promise and over-deliver. Phenomenal powder skiing." 24 hr storm totals are impressive with upper Little Cottonwood in the lead at 26" of snow with 1.16" h20. Yes, it's really that light. Park City Ridgeline and Upper Big Cottonwood are reporting 10-15 inches of new snow with about an inch of water. Areas favored by the northwest flow have significantly more snow. Other areas, such as lower down in the canyons have roughly 8-12" of new snow.

Under mostly cloudy skies this morning the temperatures remain cold with upper elevations in the single digits to low teens °F across the board. Winds are from the northwest and are currently blowing 10-15 mph gusting into the low 20's across the upper peaks. Mid elevations the winds are calm. By mid to late morning we will see some clearing with the possibility of full sunshine by late afternoon. The good news: 700mb (10,000') temperatures will remain cold throughout the day, climbing into low teens °F by late afternoon/evening.

General Announcements

CLICK HERE FOR MORE GENERAL INFO AND FAQ

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.

Regions covered