Avalanche forecast

Salt Lake

Utah Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 years ago.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

Highlights

The avalanche danger is MODERATE on steep upper elevation slopes facing northwest through north through northeast, where slabs of wind drifted snow failing on the old dry snow can be triggered. Other terrain has a LOW avalanche danger early this morning, but the danger will increase to MODERATE for wet snow sluffs with heating and sun.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Thursday’s collapsing on the ridgeline near the top of Main Days and in upper White Pine are red flags. Both were on northeasterly facing slopes above 10,000’, and the weak layer is the loose, dry snow that was on the upper elevation, shady slopes before Thursday’s snow. The slab is a combination of various wind slabs and the new snow. Approach steep, upper elevation shady slopes with caution - this is where slab avalanches can be triggered today, possibly remotely or breaking out above you when you’re part way down a slope. Small soft slabs and loose sluffs can be triggered in higher elevation terrain. Even a small slide can have serious consequences in big, steep terrain or if you’re above cliffs.

    A short video by Greg Gagne explaining layering on an upper elevation northeasterly facing slope where there was collapsing.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2

    Wet snow sluffs are likely today when the sun comes out - both natural and easily human triggered. The high sun angle combined with periods of thin clouds means the snow will heat on all aspects. The more new snow and steeper the terrain where you are, the bigger these sluffs have to the potential to be. Running on the old melt freeze ice crusts, they may go much further than expected. When the snow gets damp, head to lower angle slopes and avoid travel in and below run out zones, like gullies.

    Roof slides can occur at any time, especially with warming temperatures - always avoid travel beneath snow laden roofs and warn others.

    Glide cracks can release at any time, sending the whole season’s snowpack down slope. Avoid spending time below the yawning cracks.

    Cornices become more sensitive with heating, and are too large to tangle with or try to intentionally trigger. Avoid these monsters.

Additional Info

Slide-for-life’s may be possible on the hard crusts beneath the new snow. Consider some combination of crampons, ski crampons, Whippets or an ice axe if you’re heading into very steep, alpine terrain. Carry skin wax and a scraper to deal with alternating dry and damp snow.

General Announcements

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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.

Special Announcement

Catch up with Greg’s Week in Review HERE.

The latest blog-casts are out - Shame and the Social Contract and Stacking the Deck.

Recent Activity

Isolated wind slabs up to 10” deep were reported from the Cottonwood resorts. Other than a single Park City ridgeline observation, there were no other backcountry observations from the Salt Lake and Park City area mountains.

Snow and Weather

A few more inches of snow fell overnight, with 3 day totals about 8 to 10” at the upper elevations in the Cottonwoods and 4 to 6” along the Park City ridgeline, up to a foot in the upper elevations of the Ogden area mountains, just a few inches in the Provo area mountains. However, being spring and warm, the snow settles about as fast as it comes down, so you may find only about 1/2 that amount.

Much of the terrain is dust on crust, the exception upper elevation, northwest through northeasterly facing slopes, where there is soft snow beneath the new. Dodging hidden frozen ice chunks, avalanche debris and “curb and gutter” frozen tracks will take skill.

This morning, light snow should continue through about 8 am, with another inch or two possible at the upper elevations. Skies will then start to clear, leaving a mix of sun and high thin clouds for the afternoon. Temperatures are currently in the mid 20s at 10,000’, and will soar into the mid 40s at 8,000’ and low 30s at 10,000’. The west to northwesterly winds are light and should remain that way, averaging 5 to 15 mph, with the high peaks averaging 15 to 25 mph, gusting to 35 mph at times.

Regions covered