Avalanche forecast

Salt Lake

Issued Dec 12, 2023valid to Dec 13, 2023Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Areas of MODERATE danger exist in steep terrain of the mid and upper elevations. On these westerly to northerly to easterly facing aspects, it will still be possible to trigger an avalanche 2-4' deep stepping into the old faceted snow from early season. Cracking and collapsing may or may not accompany unstable slopes.

A LOW avalanche danger exists on many southerly aspects and on all low elevation slopes.

Avalanche problems

Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Unlikely
Size
3
Triggering an avalanche 2-4' deep down into our old PWL persistent weak layer of facets and crusts is becoming less likely in most terrain. The most recent reported avalanche into this layering was in upper Wilson Fork of Mill Creek on a steep northeast facing slope at 9600'. Although snowpits continue to show a poor structure and a "lively" interface between the strong slab over the weak facets, cracking and collapsing have become much less common. I suspect that this layering will become dormant in the days ahead. I do think it would be more likely to trigger one of these avalanches in thinner snowpack areas, such as areas of the Park City ridgeline, upper Mill Creek, Lambs Canyon, the Wasatch back, or lower canyon drainages with a much shallower snowpack. (Read more about avalanches that involve PWLs here.)

A chronological display for these backcountry (ie: not ski area) avalanches is below.

Recent Activity

We only heard of one new soft slab pocket in northwest facing Toledo Peak along the Cottonwood Ridgeline, but it was otherwise quiet in the backcountry. This pocket may have released Sunday morning with the elevated winds...or it was perhaps triggered by a shallow sluff cascading down from above.

Snow and Weather

Skies are mostly cloudy as a weak cut-off upper level low pressure system moves south through the area. Mountain temperatures are in the mid to upper 20s. Winds are from the west southwest, blowing 5-10mph. Along the highest elevations, wind speeds are blowing 15mph with gusts to 20mph. Cloud cover should start to thin by the afternoon. Winds, particularly north of I-80, will shift and blow from the east tonight and tomorrow, with particularly strong speeds in and at the mouth of the canyons. Winds aloft may also be moderate to strong from the east in the Logan area mountains and along the Idaho border. Temperatures will be in the 20s.

High pressure builds for the foreseeable future. The tea leaves hint at a pattern change just after the Solstice but we'll see.

In the meantime, backcountry travel is easy and supportable (for now), the weather is benign, and avalanche conditions are on the mend.

Recent photos of the Wasatch (Steenburgh and Talty)

Additional Info

This is an excellent time to sharpen your avalanche rescue skills. Practice with your partners or take a companion rescue clinic.

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.

Observations and Avalanches

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