Avalanche forecast

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Utah Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The overall avalanche danger is MODERATE today. Human triggered slab avalanches are possible today especially in the higher elevation more northerly facing steep terrain. You will simply want to avoid that terrain to stay out of trouble.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Unfortunately, I've had to start using the Persistent Weak Layer avalanche problem in light of what we found during fieldwork on Tuesday. Remotely triggered avalanches, poor snow pit stability tests, and facets identified near the base of the snowpack all point to unstable conditions. Because I haven't traveled around extensively yet, I'm not really sure how widespread this problem is. There is no question that it is present in the upper elevation northwest through northeast facing slopes. I would use caution on east and west facing slopes as well as those same aspects in the mid elevations. The pattern will become clear after some more fieldwork.

Special Announcement

The 5th Annual Avalanche Awareness Week is December 3-10. The week's goal is to save lives through activities that promote avalanche awareness, education, and safety. We have a variety of events around the state. Find an event near you.

Recent Activity

My partner and I remotely triggered (triggered from a distance) a medium sized avalanche on Tuesday. It released in a small northwest facing bowl at about 10,500 feet in elevation. We did not realize it had released until we were backtracking back down the mountain and stumbled onto it. It was 24 to 30 inches deep and approximately 150' wide. It produced a pile of debris about 5 or 6 feet deep.

Snow and Weather

Current Conditions: Temperatures were quite warm on Tuesday pushing into the low to mid 40s and dropping back into the mid 20s overnight. Wind from the southwest is slowly starting to increase this morning but still remains fairly light. Average snow depths in the higher terrain average 20 inches with the more favored locations over two feet.

Mountain Weather: We'll have mostly sunny skies with temperatures again pushing up to around 40 in the high country. Wind from the southwest will be light to moderate in speed, gradually increasing as the day goes on. The storm for Thursday into Friday still does not look very promising to me this morning and I'm only expecting a few inches total by Saturday. There are more chances for snow starting Sunday and into mid week.

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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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