Avalanche forecast

Salt Lake

Issued Mar 19, 2025valid to Mar 20, 2025Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists on all aspects of the upper elevations and north through east through south facing aspects of the mid-elevations. Human triggered avalanches are likely; natural avalanches are possible. A MODERATE avalanche danger exists in all other terrain. It'll be possible to trigger an avalanche large enough to bury you today.

Don't let powder fever cloud your judgment: you can trigger avalanches in steep terrain today.

Avalanche problems

Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Likely
Size
2
Pockets of wind slab will be found around the compass on nearly all aspects and elevations, although they'll be most pronounced on north to east to south facing terrain. The good news is that they've had some time to stabilize and will be less hair-trigger than yesterday. The bad news is that they're now buried under 6-12" of low density snow. Approach any classic and novel loading zone with caution today.

Trend: Increasing stability
Storm Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Very Likely
Size
2
Loose dry point release sluffs are expected on any steep slope today. They'll run naturally, particularly when the sun hits the cold snow. Hot tip for the couloir hunters: even if your couloir is north facing, the sun might catch the top of the chute that faces east and send a cascade of snow down on top of you. Today's dry sluffs will easily run with provocation and be big enough to bury you. They will also pack enough punch to crowbar out some lingering storm and wind slabs from yesterday.

Trend: Decreasing stability
Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Unlikely
Size
3
The likelihood of triggering an avalanche on one of two buried persistent weak layers is low, but still worth a mention after a significant loading event. The two layers of concern are essentially basal depth hoar on slopes that have avalanched a time or two earlier this winter. The second is a layer of faceted snow adjacent to a dust layer 2-3 feet deep. These might be more susceptible to releasing by cornice fall or by a more superficial avalanche that then steps down.

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Recent Activity

Ski area and highway avalanche teams had their hands full yesterday with nearly continuous ski cutting and avalanche mitigation on nearly all aspects and all elevations. Let me emphasize ALL ASPECTS AND ALL ELEVATIONS. Some natural avalanches ran during peak snowfall intensity and the west-northwest winds (I noted a gust over 100mph yesterday morning) kept the snow on the move. Two vehicles were trapped in a slide below Mt Superior in the late afternoon (no injuries), re-emphasizing that Little Cottonwood Canyon has one of the highest risk indexes for a road on earth. Maybe the highest.

It's not in our forecast zone, per se, but many Wasatch skiers and riders head to the Ruby Range just south of Elko, Nevada. Often the prize they're seeking is the Terminal Cancer couloir in Lamoille Canyon. Some local skiers had a very close call on Sunday and sent us an excellent write-up that offers some good takeaways. Recommended reading.

Snow and Weather

Pure Cottonwoods magic.

There are three things you can count on in this life: death, taxes, and snow in the Wasatch. Today will be what dreams are made of - if you play your cards right. It's far from green light out there.

Skies are partly cloudy and trending clear. Temperatures are in the single digits to low teens. Winds are light from the northwest. Along the highest ridgelines, they're blowing 20mph with gusts to 30.

Most areas picked up another 6-12" overnight of 5% champagne powder. The storm numbers (snow/snow-water-equivalent) are below:

LCC: 30"/2.05"

BCC: 20"/1.25"

PC: 15"/1.1"

Ogden: 12-20"/1.1"

Provo: 8"/0.6"

Today will be nothing short of glorious: clearing skies, slowly warming temperatures and light northwest winds. And some of the best skiing and riding of the year.

Looking ahead, we have a weak weather system tomorrow followed by another storm on Saturday. It's too early to say this is the last of winter - as temps will soar to 70°F in the valley next week - but you never know.

Additional Info

SIX TIPS THAT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE (click for link to paper)

Researchers Ian McCammon and Kelly McNeil offer an updated take on reducing your risk in the backcountry:

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

1***Carry a spare beacon to the trailhead and ALWAYS do a beacon check.

Many recent victims left their beacon in the car, in the bottom of their pack, or failed to turn on the beacon at the trailhead.

2***Practice companion rescue AND Learn backcountry first aid skills, including dealing with trauma and bleeding.

Trauma now accounts for 50% of the mortality rate. The old statistics were just 25%.

3***Don't travel Alone...but if you do, do the following:

Reduce your risk by avoiding avalanche terrain, sharing your route with family/friends, wearing a beacon, and using a satellite tracking device (ie: Spot or InReach or Strava)

4***Understand the Avalanche Forecast. Stick to your original route plan.

Stick to the plan. If you rule out certain aspects and elevations in the morning, don't change your mind during the day. Many accidents have occurred after the party changed their plans and drifted into more dangerous terrain during the day.

5***Recognize Avalanche Terrain. Don't overlook terrain traps.

Terrain traps are commonly overlooked in regards to avalanche terrain assessment. Ask, "What will happen if it slides?"

6***Go One At a Time.

Research indicated that many perceived "safe zones" were not. Similarly, many accidents occurred when parties went one at at time for the first two riders, but then the following riders did not wait...and triggered the avalanche.

From the authors of the study - Perhaps the greatest risk to these parties was not the avalanche conditions or the terrain, but their confidence that their risk management skills could overcome the avalanche danger they were trying to avoid.

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.

Observations and Avalanches

Backcountry Emergency Procedures