Avalanche forecast

Salt Lake

Issued Apr 3, 2026valid to Apr 4, 2026Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Areas of CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exist in steep wind drifted terrain. These soft slabs will be 1-2'+ thick and a couple hundred feet wide and most pronounced on slopes facing north to east to south. Flip a coin? - There's more than an even chance you'll trigger an avalanche big enough to bury you on some slopes today.

Because of the thin snow conditions, traumatic injury will be more likely with any avalanche involvement.

Avalanche problems

Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Likely
Size
2
You will be able to trigger soft but stubborn slabs of wind drifted snow in steep lee terrain today. These slabs will be 1-2'+ deep and up to a couple hundred feet wide. They won't be as sensitive today as they were yesterday, which, in fact, may make them more tricky and diabolical. Cracking and collapsing may not be as "in-your-face"...which might give a false sense of security. The drifts will be most pronounced on slopes with an easterly component, but yesterday's swirling and eddying winds may have slabs in unusual terrain.

One more tip: "elevation" is less important than "topography". There will be many "mid-elevation" (ie-less than 9500' in elevation) peaks and ridgelines that will be more troublesome than "mid-slopes" in the upper elevations. Reynolds and Murdock Peaks come to mind. The Bottom Line: Avoid any steep wind drifted slope.

Remember that cross-loading is as much a factor as "top-down" wind loading in avoiding wind slabs today. PC: Brooke Maushund
Storm Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
2
You may also be able to trigger lingering soft slabs in the storm snow or loose dry sluffs in the upper few inches of the lower density snow on any aspect. These will be much less "diabolical" and easier to manage with proper terrain choices and ski cuts.
Loose Wet
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Unlikely
Size
2
My greatest uncertainty will be with any damp or wet loose avalanche activity today. Even though the temps are quite cold, they'll be warming through the afternoon. Combined with the direct sun, it may be possible to trigger damp and shallow wet loose sluffs. I do think this will be more of a problem over the weekend, but the strong spring sun in Utah isn't to be counted out.

Special Announcement

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 fill out. Link is HERE

Recent Activity

Wind and more wind. Backcountry riders triggered at least three wind slabs 1-2' deep and up to 300' wide yesterday in steep easterly facing terrain just off the ridgelines. (Rocky Point, Twin Lakes, and George's Bowl). Two and perhaps three of these soft slabs were triggered at a distance but there were no involvements. (N Burr pic below)

You can view all recent observations HERE.

Snow and Weather

Two powerhouse storms delivered 20-30" and up to 3.35" of snow-water-equivalent to the upper Cottonwoods and 14-20" along the PC ridgeline. (With some bitterness, I think, Where were you all winter?). The cold front in the midday hours effectively kicked the door down, with lightning, graupel, heavy snow, and swirling winds. Lift chairs were on hold and people ran for cover. Temps have plummeted to the single digits and low teens, but the fly in the ointment are the winds: they remained moderate to strong out of the west-northwest through the wee hours this morning and have only barely started to lose steam.

For today, we'll see thinning clouds with skies trending blue. Temperatures will slowly warm to the upper teens to low 20s. Winds will remain from the west-northwest and drop to below 15mph by the afternoon. High pressure builds over the weekend through early next week and we'll see sunny skies, warming temps and light northwest winds.

(The Ogden area mountains picked up 2-2.5" of precipitation and the Provo area mountains picked up 2.5-3.0" of precipitation with the storms.)

Bo Torrey's Week in Review is hot off the press. Get caught up on the week HERE.

Additional Info

The intersection of danger and desire lead to avalanche involvements. Beware the feeding frenzy today.

General Announcements

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