Avalanche forecast

Salt Lake

Issued Jan 13, 2026valid to Jan 14, 2026Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A MODERATE avalanche danger exists on upper elevation slopes facing W-N-E, where potential for large avalanches in isolated areas remains. You could trigger a hard slab avalanche that fails 2 to 5 feet deep on a persistent weak layer of facets near the ground. Steep, rocky, or extreme terrain at upper elevations, where the snowpack depth is variable, is the most suspect.

Avalanche danger is LOW elsewhere. Small but predictable wet loose avalanches may release during the day on sunny slopes with daytime warming. Avoid traveling in tight spaces or above features where being caught in a small avalanche would have outsized consequences.

Avalanche problems

Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Unlikely
Size
3
Saturdays, natural avalanche in Stairs Gulch highlights the lingering potential for large, hard slab avalanches failing on a persistent weak layer. The question remains: how likely are we to trigger one?

During the last storm, reported avalanches on this layer were rare. This could be due to the layer's strength, or simply poor visibility, masking activity, and storm snow filling in crown lines before we could document them. What we do know is that ski areas have been able to trigger some avalanches on this layer with large explosives as recently as Saturday morning.

Improved coverage and clear weather may tempt riders into new, data-sparse terrain. As we push out, travel cautiously and check snow depths frequently. High-elevation, rocky slopes with thin and variable snow depths are the most suspect. These are the spots where you may still be able to trigger a large avalanche.

Low probability to trigger, but if you do, the avalanche could be 2 to 5 feet deep and up to 200 feet wide.

Special Announcement

Grizzly Gulch will be closed to backcountry travel this Wednesday (1/14) from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM for helicopter training with Wasatch Backcountry Rescue.

Reminder from PC Patrol to BCC touring parties: Now that Jupiter is open, Pinecone Ridge, off Puke Hill, is in-bounds and closed terrain.

Recent Activity

Other than minor, wet-loose activity on solar slopes, no avalanche activity was reported from Monday in the Salt Lake mountains.

On Saturday, a natural avalanche in Stairs Gulch on a steep, northerly aspect at 10,100 feet was reported. The avalanche was 5 feet deep and 200 feet wide, running to the ground. Photo below from Nathan Longhurst.

In addition, Saturday morning avalanche teams in the Upper Cottonwoods triggered large hard slab avalanches that failed 3-5 feet deep on a persistent weak layer. These broke on upper elevation, north-facing slopes in steep rocky terrain.

Natural avalanche in Stairs Gulch on Saturday.

Snow and Weather

Yesterday, skies were clear and daytime temperatures warmed into the upper 30s ˚ F. Wind blowing from the NW was light, 5-15mph with gusts in the 20s.

Today, temperatures warm into the low 40s ˚ F. Winds remain out of the NW and pick up slightly, 10-20 mph with gusts along exposed ridges into the 30s.

A ferocious mid-winter ridge stretching from Mexico to Northern Canada sits over the Western US and blocks our chance of precipitation for the next 7+ days. Rejoice in being in the mountains and out of valley inversion.

Additional Info

Recent observations have highlighted some concerning travel trends in our zones. These comments aren't about judgment; they come from a place of shared concern for our community and everyone's safety.

It is a good time to refresh on the basics. Safe travel habits aren't just for 'high danger' days; they are the baseline techniques that reduce vulnerability for you and the groups around you.

The goal is margin. We treat safe travel as a strict, daily habit to build a margin for error. This ensures that even if the actual conditions turn out to be different than your assessment, your exposure to the consequences remains low.

Pick safe up tracks that utilize ridges and slopes less than 30 degrees.
One at a time- never expose more than one person at a time to avalanche-prone slopes
Travel with a partner- you can't dig yourself out. A good partner can help you make decisions and is essential if things go wrong.
Communicate- communication with your partners is the key to good decision-making.
Stay out of the way- Avalanches commonly flow into gentle, open terrain. Regroup in places where you're not exposed.

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