This morning's LOW avalanche danger may rise to MODERATE in the upper elevation bands this afternoon IF we see the higher end of snow and wind with the cold front. IF we see 4-6"+ of new snow, you may be able to trigger shallow pockets of wind blown snow and longer running loose dry sluffs in steep terrain.
IF we see the upper end of snow (6-8") and wind today, you may be able to trigger shallow pockets of wind blown snow and longer running loose dry sluffs in steep terrain of the upper elevation bands today.
Otherwise, your main concerns are with standard springtime mountain hazards:
Human Factor Research: Researchers Ian McCammon and Sara Boilen are developing new tools for managing human factors for backcountry skiers and boarders. This survey asks about personal experiences with human factors and will take 7-8 minutes to complete. Link is HERE.
None.
You can view all recent observations HERE.
Skies are mostly cloudy-becoming-overcast. We're "warm before the storm" as temperatures are in the mid-to upper 30s at most locations, roughly 10-15 degrees warmer than this time yesterday. Winds are playing their role as well, blowing 20-30mph from the southwest. Along the most exposed ridgelines, anemometers hum at 35-40mph with gusts to 50.
The main headline for today will be the sharp cold front, set to arrive in the early afternoon. Accompanying moisture is limited, but we may squeeze 3-6" out of the system if we're lucky...and perhaps another inch or two from the much-diminished Great Salt Lake. We'll see. Temperatures plunge behind the front and we could well see 11,000' temps drop to 0°F by Friday morning - temperatures we haven't seen since February 19th(!)
Skies begin to clear by tomorrow and we'll have sunny skies and warming temperatures through the weekend into early next week. The models depict a cut-off Low pressure system diving south along the Pacific coast and then wandering inland mid to late next week, but it's a bit like spinning a quarter on the kitchen table - it's anyone's guess when and where it'll end up.
Skiing and riding conditions yesterday weren't half bad on the damp few inches of snow from Sunday night and were best on smooth, low angle aspects where the underlying crust had softened a touch. (I toured in the Dog Lake and Lake Catherine area of upper BCC yesterday and my report can be found HERE.) With the dramatic cold front, the riding conditions will lock-up and we'll be bottom-feeding on the rock-hard substrate on Friday. The term coral comes to mind. And that's where there is snow.
We have published February 2026: Four Avalanche Fatalities in Five Days: a community review with most of the UAC Salt Lake office. This 38-minute video is worth sitting down and digesting. A huge thanks to UAC Education Manager & Forecaster McKinley Talty for his hard work putting this together behind the scenes.
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.
