Salt Lake

Avalanche problems

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline

  Likelihood

  Likely

  Size

  2

  Overnight, winds ramped up, with gusts hitting 70 mph at upper-elevation ridgelines. With plenty of soft snow available for transport, these strong winds continue to form soft slabs of wind-drifted snow. As winds remain elevated throughout the day, expect these slabs to grow larger and more cohesive. While most pronounced on leeward slopes, such high winds can load any aspect as they swirl and shift through the terrain.

  Approach steep terrain features where drifting snow has accumulated with caution. Watch for rounded, wavy, or pillowy snow, and be alert for signs of instability, such as cracking and collapsing.

  All this new and wind-drifted snow is landing on ideal bed surfaces, making it prone to shallow but sensitive sluffs and slabs.

• 

  Storm Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline

  Likelihood

  Likely

  Size

  2

  As of this morning, some areas have received up to 18 inches of snow and 1.6 inches of water, with heavy snowfall continuing in the mountains. We should be mindful of how this new snow bonds to the underlying surfaces. Soft slabs and dry-loose avalanches are the primary concerns today, with failures possible both within the new snow (due to density changes) and at the old/new snow interface.

  Watch for signs of instability, such as cracking and sluffing, as even a small slide can have serious consequences in steep terrain or near cliffs. Assess stability carefully before committing to steep slopes.

  Example of the easy sluffing seen - Silverfork (DB)

• 

  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline

  Likelihood

  Possible

  Size

  3

  It’s still possible to trigger a 2–4 foot deep avalanche on a persistent weak layer, and the snowpack remains highly variable. While these layers may be slowly transitioning toward dormancy, it's unclear how they will respond to the recent loading from new snow and wind.

  Snow depths vary significantly across the range. In some areas, the snowpack is deep and strong, measuring 6 feet or more. In contrast, slopes that have previously avalanched are much shallower—around 2–4 feet—with weak, faceted snow near the bottom. At one location, Dave Kelly observed full propagation results, a clear sign that slab avalanches are still possible in certain terrain.

  For now, probe and dig before committing to steep, north-facing terrain. Slopes that have recently avalanched are the most likely to harbor lingering weak layers, and steep, rocky terrain with shallow snowpacks remains the most suspect for weak, faceted snow.

  What remains uncertain is whether this storm will be enough to reactivate the persistent weak layer. However, these slopes are still the most dangerous, as any additional loading from new snow and wind could tip the balance. If the weak layer does wake back up, avalanches in these areas will be large and destructive. Given the uncertainty, the safest move today is to step back and continue avoiding steep, shady terrain where these layers persist.