Avalanche forecast

Salt Lake

Issued Jan 16, 2021valid to Jan 17, 2021Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on steep upper elevation slopes facing NW, N, NE, and east. On mid-elevation slopes facing west, north, through the southeast, there is MODERATE avalanche danger. Any avalanche could be 1-3' deep and over 100' wide. You may also find reactive soft and hard slabs of wind-drifted snow at the upper elevations as well as some mid-elevation slopes. This is not a time to let your guard down - continue to practice cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making.

Avalanche problems

Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Likely
Size
2
It's pretty lame when you have to worry about getting 2-4" (0.10 - 3.0" water) of new snow on top of our pre-existing snowpack. It goes to show just how weak and poor the overall snowpack structure is. Because of the new snow and strong winds at the upper elevations, it's hard NOT to think that the avalanche danger hasn't increased overnight. However, it's difficult to know exactly how reactive it will be. If you're heading into steep upper elevation terrain that faces NW, N, NE, and east - know that dangerous avalanche conditions could exist. Approach those slopes with caution, and conservative decision-making.

In places where the new snow didn't stack up and in terrain unaffected by the wind, the avalanche danger hasn't changed much. Although, in this terrain, it's still possible to trigger an avalanche, and I would not be surprised to hear of another human-triggered avalanche failing on this buried persistent weak layer. Our best option is to be conservative and continue riding in terrain under 30° degrees in slope steepness.
Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
2
Strong winds from the past few days have created hard drifts of windblown snow in isolated areas at the mid and upper elevations. Overnight, strong winds and a little bit of new snow will likely have created a fresh batch of small soft slabs across the upper elevation terrain. In either case, the wind has drifted snow, creating shallow soft and hard slabs in steep leeward terrain.

The winds have been primarily from the west/northwest. However, when winds are this strong, they can work through terrain and create drifts on almost any aspect. Fresh wind drifts often look pillowy, smooth, and rounded. Old hard drifts of windblown snow will feel stiff and sound hollow like a drum. As always, keep an eye out for drifts of windblown snow and avoid those areas.

Special Announcement

Thanks to the generous support of our local resorts, Ski Utah, and Backcountry, discount lift tickets are now available. Support the UAC while you ski at the resorts this season. Tickets are available here.

Recent Activity

No new avalanches were reported from the backcountry on Friday. You can find all the backcountry observations HERE. Our Week in Review - where we highlight significant avalanche and weather events - has been published.

Snow and Weather

Overnight, a weak but albeit surprising storm moved overhead on a northwest flow and has delivered 2-4" (0.10 - 0.31" water) of new snow in the Upper Cottonwoods as of 6:00 am. Outside of the Upper Cottonwoods, only a trace to an inch of snow has fallen. The snow showers won't last long as the storm exits the stadium around 10:00 am. As the storm moves east, we will see partly cloudy to clearing skies as high pressure builds back for the weekend. Another small storm arrives on Monday.

Current mountain temperatures are in the high teens to low 20's °F throughout the range. Winds did pick up overnight from the west-northwest and are currently blowing 40-50 mph at 11,000'. Most 10,000' ridgeline winds are blowing 10-15 mph with gusts into the low 20's mph.

Strong winds earlier this week changed the alpine landscape making many surfaces rough like a moonscape. Basically, the wind was like sanding a board with 30 grit sandpaper. With our thin new coat of white paint, I doubt it filled in and covered the roughness. Out of the wind zone, I am sure the 2-4" of new snow has dramatically improved the riding conditions (for this year at least).

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

Backcountry Emergency Procedures