Avalanche forecast

Salt Lake

Issued Jan 21, 2020valid to Jan 22, 2020Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired 7 years ago.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

Highlights

Most terrain has a LOW avalanche danger. Isolated rogue wind drifts may still exist in the highest alpine terrain. Minor sluffing is still possible on the steepest northerly aspects.

A pockety MODERATE danger exists on some localized slopes facing east to south to west that harbor a weak interface prior to Friday's storm. These avalanches may be 12-18" deep and a few hundred feet wide.

Continue to observe safe travel protocol. Practice with your rescue gear.

Avalanche problems

Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
2
The outlier. I suspect that the Mill B South avalanche is more the exception than the rule but I feel it probably involves a facet/crust structure from last Wed/Thurs. While nearly everything else in the range was skiied/ridden with impunity the last two days, this avalanche warrants great attention and respect. East to south to west facing slopes must be investigated individually to determine if this unstable layering exists as cracking and collapsing may not be present.

Again, these are unusual avalanches on unusual aspects for us here in the Wasatch.

Thanks to those who went out yesterday actively digging on these aspects (Gagne, Paradis, Catino and others). As you'll read in their observations, nothing they found provided any indication of unstable layering that would avalanche.

Hopefully we will have this avalanche investigated today.

Special Announcement

We are very sad to report an avalanche fatality from Saturday above Farmington Canyon. An 18 year old male snowmobiler was caught, fully buried and killed. Preliminary info available HERE. Our deepest condolences go out to the friends, family, rescuers, and everyone affected by this tragic accident.

Recent Activity

Other than some minor wet loose activity associated with the afternoon greenhousing, no avalanche activity was reported from the backcountry.

However -

The most significant avalanche reported Sunday was in Mill B South of Big Cottonwood Canyon.

The third of a party of three, while traversing high along the Mill B South and Mineral Fork ridgeline, triggered and was briefly caught and carried in an estimated 12-18" deep and 100' wide soft slab avalanche. The initial avalanche in turn sympathetically triggered a similar one, estimated to be 400' wide...and perhaps another one or more along the ridgeline heading north. These avalanches are on steep west to southwest facing slopes at 10,200'.

The failure plane most likely involves a facet/crust combination formed Wednesday/Thursday during the quick window of high pressure and survived the punishing pre-frontal southwest winds. (Photo 1, 2 - Sheehan)

Snow and Weather

Skies are mostly cloudy with mountain temperatures in the mid to upper 20s. The wind vanes shift indiscriminately between south-southeast and south-southwest, blowing 15-20mph with gusts to 30. 11,000' elevations have gusts to 45.

Sun, wind, and greenhousing have taken their toll on the snow surfaces in recent days, but one can still find joy in the wind and sun protected terrain.

For today, we may see a trace to an inch from a system passing to the south. Temps will be in the upper 20s down low, the low 20s up high. Winds will be westerly at 10-15mph. A stronger system passes by to the north tonight through tomorrow, but spillover may offer 4-8" in the higher terrain. Ridging builds back in for late week into the early weekend with a somewhat active pattern setting up for early next week.

Additional Info

Owing to the sun, warmth, and wind, it appears that most of the weak snow surfaces, including surface hoar, suffered great degradation over the past 24-36 hours and any new snow should bond favorably.

Cornices should still be given a wide berth. (pc McIntyre)

General Announcements

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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