Avalanche forecast

Salt Lake

Utah Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
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Out of date — this forecast expired 9 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Most terrain is either at LOW or no avalanche danger simply because there isn’t enough snow. However, MODERATE avalanche danger exists on W-N-E slopes above 9000 feet, where you can trigger small but sensitive slabs on top of a thin, faceted base. You can trigger shallow slabs or loose dry avalanches that gouge down to the ground. The thin ground coverage remains a notable hazard.

Avalanche danger will be on the rise overnight and through the weekend.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Early-season snowfall from October and November melted off in most locations but lingered on slopes facing W-N-E above 9000 feet. That snow turned into a layer of weak faceted snow and was buried on November 30. Shortly after, avalanche activity began, and we've had reports of avalanches daily.

    In places where the wind drifted snow into a more cohesive slab, we’ve seen small but sensitive soft slab avalanches. In more protected areas, riders have triggered loose dry snow avalanches that gouge down to the ground. Not only could these avalanches bury you in a terrain trap, but take you on a nasty ride.

    The activity thus far is a glimpse into what we can expect today. Over the next few days, expect the avalanche size to grow and the likelihood to increase.

Special Announcement

This week is Avalanche Awareness Week. Events are happening daily across the state to prepare you for winter and get you thinking about avalanche safety.

Find out about all our events HERE.

Recent Activity

Yesterday, Pro-observer Mark White remotely triggered a soft slab avalanche in Dry Fork on a northeast-facing slope at 10,400 feet. The avalanche broke 12 inches deep and 30 feet wide. View his full observation here.

His is one of a number of avalanches we heard about this week. You can find more recent activity HERE

Snow and Weather

This morning, temperatures are cold. Trailheads are in 10˚-15 ˚Fahrenheit and upper elevations are in the single digits. Winds are blowing from the NW at 5-15 mph at 9000 feet and 15-25 mph at 11000 ft. Yesterday, some favored locations saw an inch or two of snow, but most locations only received a trace.

Today, skies will be mostly clear with some low clouds obscuring peaks early in the morning that should burn off by late morning. Temperatures rise into the low to mid 20s˚ Fahrenheit. Winds will be light from the WNW at 9000 feet, and 20-30 mph along the upper elevation ridgelines. I expect to see an increase in winds late this afternoon as the storm approaches from the northwest.

This weekend, a significant winter storm moves in late tonight through the weekend with 1 to 2 feet of snow expected. The wet and windy storm favors Northern Utah and locations with a WNW flow. Expect the rain/snow line to rise through Saturday morning to ~7500 feet before the cold front arrives Saturday afternoon. Avalanche danger will quickly rise as snow accumulates.

Our partners are the National Weather Service in SLC have issued a Winter Storm Watch for the Wasatch and Western Uinta Mountains from late tonight through late Saturday night in anticipation of a prolonged period of heavy snowfall.

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.

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