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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Today's danger is MODERATE for recent and developing wind drifts in the mid- and upper-elevations. The drifts will be most pronounced on steep north to east to south facing slopes above about 9500', with more isolated drifts on other aspects and in the mid elevations. Dry sluffing remains a possibility, especially in the steepest, most confined terrain. Wind sheltered terrain has a generally LOW danger and still holds some incredible skiing and riding conditions.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    There remains the potential for wind drifts, up to a foot deep, in the higher elevations today. Cold temps have preserved the low density snow and it will be pushed around by the strengthening westerly winds today. These drifts may be up to a foot deep and more pronounced on steep north to east to south facing slopes above 9500'. Some crossloading noted on westerly terrain in the upper elevations yesterday. Due to terrain channeling, pockety drifts may be found in the mid-elevations of all aspects. Take note that it may be possible for some drifts to be triggered remotely (at a distance).

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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.

Special Announcement

New Blog post - Low Danger - Chapter 1 - We're All in This Together

New Blog-cast - I AM Dangerous

Catch up on the past week of snow, weather and avalanches with Greg Gagne’s Week in Review.

Recent Activity

Small wind slabs, a cornice fall and a handful of dry sluffs reported form the backcountry yesterday, in steep terrain in Little Cottonwood and along the Park City ridgeline.

Snow and Weather

Today's forecast written by Benjamin Bombard and approved by Drew Hardesty.

Another beautiful morning in the Wasatch. Periods of sunshine today between the cloud cover as a moist westerly flow builds to the north of the Wasatch. That newly arriving storm system could pack a wintry punch tomorrow for the Ogden and Logan area mountains, with a 4-8"+ or more of new snow possible by tomorrow afternoon.

Mountain temperatures are in the single digits and warming slowly into the low- to mid-teens. We may even see temps reaching into the 20s today in the Cottonwoods.

The wind is swirling out of the west, blowing between 15-25mph, with gusts into the 30s and reaching to the 40s as the new system approaches.

No new snow to report, with depths sitting between 110" and roughly 130" in the upper Cottonwoods, between 75" and 100" along the Park City ridgelines. We'll probably see light snow accumulations in the Wasatch beginning tonight and falling slowly and intermittently in the coming days. I think we can say with certainty that the groundhog missed his forecast!

Skiing and riding conditions are excellent, especially in wind-sheltered and northern aspects, where the snow is deep and dry.

Additional Info

There is a very isolated chance a person, cornice or smaller slide could trigger a slide breaking on facets near the ground, in thinner snowpack areas or slopes that have previously slid this winter.

Regions covered