Salt Lake

Welcome to the start of the 2024-2025 winter season.

Thanks for checking the forecast, and stay tuned. We’ll issue updates as conditions warrant, with regular forecasts and danger ratings starting in December. You can find 6"-18" of snow on northerly facing terrain above 8,500'. There were reports of dry loose and some isolated wind-drifts over the last few days. With the thin snowpack any avalanche you trigger could mean a nasty ride through rocky terrain. This update is from 0800 on Tuesday November 5th.

The 17th Annual Utah Professional Snow and Avalanche Workshop (PROSAW) was held this past weekend. Thanks to all the attendees and presenters that took time to make this a successful event. We're not done yet; the 17th Annual Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop (USAW) is scheduled for Saturday December 7th - Information and tickets available here.

There were reports of shallow wind drifts and dry loose avalanches on steep terrain over the last few days. Find all recent observations HERE.

4"-8" of snow is forecasted during the day on Tuesday with up to .50" of water. Winds will blow from the west, shifting to the north as the storm exits Utah and temperatures drop. Read the mountain weather forecast for the Cottonwood Canyons and Provo HERE and you can check out the updated NWS forecast discussion HERE.

Snow depths are 6"-18" above 8,500' with more snow on the northerly facing higher elevation terrain.

We've had a few more inches of snow since Trent and the Alta Avalanche Offices' observation from Collins Gulch. The photo below gives a general idea of what the snowpack on north facing terrain in the Central Wasatch above 9,500' looks like.

It’s never too early to start thinking about avalanches. Here are a few things to consider doing:

• Before traveling within one of the ski resort boundaries, even early season, check out Resort Uphill Policies HERE
• We have over 5 hours of free online learning at the Know Before You Go Website
• Sign up for an on-snow class or in in person Know Before you Go Event HERE
• Get your avalanche rescue gear ready for winter. Put fresh batteries in your transceiver and update the firmware. Inspect your shovel and probe. Get your airbag backpack ready by possibly doing a test deployment and updating the firmware if it is an electric version or getting your canister refilled if it's not electronic