Avalanche forecast

Salt Lake

Issued Apr 4, 2026valid to Apr 5, 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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago.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

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on most slopes. You can find slabs of wind-drifted snow 1-2'+ thick on most N-E-S facing slopes that can break hundreds of feet wide. These were responsible for 18 skier-triggered avalanches, including 10 catch and carries yesterday. As temperatures rise above freezing for the first time since the storms under sunny skies, expect wet avalanche activity to increase in likelihood and size throughout the day on slopes facing W-S-E.

Many avalanche accidents happen on the first sunny day(s)/weekend following a storm. Be sure to follow safe travel protocols: skiing one at a time, being aware of who is above and below you, and keeping an eye on your partner.

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 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, potentially propagating further. They won't be as sensitive today as they were yesterday, which, in fact, may make them more tricky to identify. Cracking and collapsing also may not be as "in-your-face". The drifts will be most pronounced on slopes with an easterly component, but swirling and eddying winds earlier this week may have slabs in unusual terrain. You also may be able to find pockets of loose new snow in upper-elevation sheltered terrain than can run fast and far on the slick mid-storm interface.

While I think the sensitivity of these will drop significantly today from yesterday, these still will be your primary concern. 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.

A very lucky skier who went for a ride in the steep, wind-drifted terrain of Wolverine Cirque yesterday. They were lucky to only lose a ski.

Remember that cross-loading is as much a factor as "top-down" wind loading in avoiding wind slabs today.
Loose Wet
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
2
Today is the first day since the new snow fell that temperatures will rise above freezing. With sunny skies overhead, the rising temps and solar input will make wet avalanche activity increase in likelihood and size throughout the day. Give the wind slab activity running on the mid-storm interface yesterday, I'd expect these to peel off on the mid-storm interface on slopes that face the sun by mid afternoon.

As the day goes on, if the snow surface is becoming more wet, it's a sign wet snow avalanches are on the menu. These can start small, but quickly gain mass and speed as they run downhill. These will be especially likely near rock bands. Roller balls and pinwheels are signs to change aspects or head back to the truck.

Special Announcement

New UAC Podcast Episode: Longtime local professionals Jenna Malone and Chris Brown sat down with us to discuss Utah's Backcountry Culture and Etiquette—especially relevant this weekend. Give it a listen on your ride upcanyon, and maybe take a look at Jenna's timeless Ascent Backcountry Snow Journal piece "Mountain Manners (and why they matter)"

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

Recent Activity

Yesterday brought 18 reported skier-triggered avalanches in the backcountry, with at least 10 catch and carries (up to 4 more additional, hard to say from reporting), and one evacuation via helicopter due to traumatic injuries secondary to avalanche catch and carry. There were numerous other close calls.

Sunset Peak (10,400', NW) Champion, Conover, Malone

Cardiac Ridge, (10,400, E) Close call in the skintrack. Dindy

These were primarily D1.5-D2 soft slabs of wind-drifted snow running on the density change at the interface between 4/1 & 4/2 storms. The most notable slide was on Sunset Peak, with a sympathetic release and mid-slope fracture with substantial propagation. A couple select photos above, but more can be found 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 earlier this week, with two distinct pulses on 4/1 then 4/2. The wet, dense, heavy 4/1 snow bonded quite well to the wetted old surface. This snow greenhoused and wetted under low-hanging clouds, then refroze before a mix of snow and graupel loaded on top of it with strong winds on 4/2. The 4/2 snow did not bond so well to this mid-storm system interface. The winds remained moderate to strong out of the west-northwest throughout this entire system.

Yesterday, the feeding frenzy began as riders were crawling around upper LCC in search of powder skiing. And boy did they find it, and lots of avalanches! More on that below. Under partly sunny skies, temps stayed in the high singles to low double digits F, with a light breeze keeping things cool. Pockets of low-hanging clouds move in and out of drainages throughout the day.

For today, we'll see temperatures rising above freezing for the first time since the storms. Expect temps in the mid to high 30s F, under bright blue sunny skies, with only light NW wind to even attempt to keep things cool.

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