Bollettino valanghe

Salt Lake

Pubblicato il Feb 18, 2026valido fino al Feb 19, 2026Utah Avalanche Center

Pericolo valanghe

Alta quota
Limite del bosco
Sotto il limite del bosco

Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 6 months ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

Avalanche danger will rise to HIGH on mid- and upper-elevation slopes facing E-N-NW. It is possible to trigger avalanches more than 3 feet deep on a buried persistent weak layer (PWL) on mid- and upper-elevation slopes facing W-N-E. These slides can break hundreds of feet wide, and can be triggered from a distance. The continuing storm will create wind slabs and new snow avalanches.

The recommendation for today is simple: as we approach HIGH danger, avoid all avalanche terrain.

Stick to slopes less than 30 degrees.
Stay well away from slopes connected to or below anything steeper than 30 degrees.
Be aware of who is above and below you.

Problemi valanghivi

Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alta quota
Limite del bosco
Sotto il limite del bosco
Probabilità
Very Likely
Dimensione
3
Storm totals are pushing 20" of snow this morning, with the potential for up to 25" more by sunset. This is all being blown in on moderate to strong winds, shifting from primarily the W/SW to NW later today.

You will be able to find slabs more than 3' deep on all aspects at high elevations, and on exposed mid-elevation slopes facing SE-N-NW. These will be most common near ridgelines, and on mid-slope catchment features such as gullies and convex rolls. Be on the lookout for drifts, dunes, pillows, and wind-textured surfaces as these are signs the wind has been at work. If the snow beneath your feet starts to sound hollow, like styrofoam, this is a sign you may have found a slab.

These will have the potential to break/propagate wider than expected, and possibly be triggered from a distance (remote triggering) as they may be built atop the weak snow...more on that below.
Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alta quota
Limite del bosco
Sotto il limite del bosco
Probabilità
Very Likely
Dimensione
3
The Dry January Layer (DJL) that was created in our January dry spell can be found on upper and mid-elevation W-N-E facing slope. The DJL has close to 20" sitting on it this morning in non-wind-loaded areas, with the potential for up to 25" more by sunset.

Whopping slabs are building on top of the very weak DJL. This strong over weak structure is VERY LIKELY to produce large, destructive avalanches big enough to bury and kill a person, and potentially damage a car, by the end of the day. Expect these to be able to propagate widely, and potentially be triggered from a distance away (remote-triggering). If you're considering “safe” travel on a ridgeline, be aware that you may be a hazard to those below you if you trigger (or remote trigger) a slide on the slopes adjacent to you, especially in a busy area. Be aware of who and what is above and below you today. Find safer riding conditions on slopes less than 30° with no overhead hazard.

As the storm carries on, expect these to increase in size and likelihood. Wind-loaded slopes mentioned above are most suspect.

The DJL is evident in the gray stripe shown in the photo below from Days Fork on Sunday.
Storm Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alta quota
Limite del bosco
Sotto il limite del bosco
Probabilità
Likely
Dimensione
2
On slopes and features protected from the wind, natural avalanches of new snow will become LIKELY, and human-triggered avalanches VERY LIKELY. These will looks one of two ways:

Storm slabs: denser, new snow will run on top of, and possibly into, the weak old snow. Be aware of triggering one of these into a terrain trap at mid and lower elevations, such as road cuts, creeks, and gullies. Cracking along the snow surface is a sign that you found a slab.

Loose dry sluffs: unconsolidated, dry new snow will run far and fast. At their smallest, these will be able to knock you off your feet, and at their largest, bury a person. They will be most common on steeper slopes, especially where more graupel has fallen.

Avalanche Warning

What: The avalanche danger for the warning area is rising to HIGH today.

Where: The mountains of Northern, Central, and Southwestern Utah, as well as Southeastern Idaho.

Impacts: Recent heavy snow combined with strong wind is creating widespread areas of unstable snow. Both human-triggered and natural avalanches are likely. Avalanches will increase in size and likelihood throughout the day.

What to do: Avoid all avalanche terrain. Stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30°. Carry and know how to use avalanche rescue equipment. Find safer riding conditions on slopes less than 30° with no overhead hazard

Warning Times: Wednesday, 2/18/26 at 6:00 AM MST through Thursday, 2/19/26 at 6:00 AM MST

Special Announcement

Avalanche Warning vs. Watch: The UAC upgraded our Avalanche WATCH to our first Avalanche WARNING of the season today. An Avalanche WARNING —the most severe avalanche alert product we have—is issued when large avalanches are certain or very likely in many areas and when unusually dangerous avalanche conditions exist. More info on each of these from Bruce Tremper and Drew Hardesty HERE.

Recent Activity

Mitigation teams along the PC Ridgeline — reported producing a very large (D2.5) avalanche big enough to damage a vehicle with explosives. The slide was a 300' wide wind slab breaking into weak, old snow on a N aspect, 9100'.

Mitigation teams in Upper Little Cottonwood — reported producing avalanches up to 32" deep and 100' wide with air blasts, potentially breaking into the facets below the new snow on a NW aspect, 10,650'

Large natural avalanche in Days Fork — Burr reported a large natural (D1.5-2) avalanche of new storm snow running in Lucky Days yesterday evening. NE, 9500'

You can view all recent observations here.

Snow and Weather

Since Monday evening, a series of storms arrived on SW flow, along with strong winds. Precipitation and winds from the W shifting SW continued through the night, with temps in the 20s dropping to the teens F. Storm totals this morning are:

LCC: up to 18 inches of graupel and snow // 2.22" of H2O
BCC: up to 19 inches of graupel and snow // 1.75" of H2O
PC Ridgeline: up to 18 inches of graupel and snow // 1.73" H2O

Today, snow/graupel showers continue until the early afternoon when a cold front arrives out of the W. This will increase precip rates, reaching up to 2"/hour at some points this afternoon of cold, low-density snowfall. Winds remain moderate, decreasing slightly into the evening, and temps drop from the teens to single digits F. The storm track is expected to shift to the NW: the favored flow for the Cottonwoods. The majority of snowfall is expected by sunset, with a forecast additional:

LCC: 16-25 inches snow // 1-1.4" H2O by 5pm
BCC: 12-16 inches of snow // 0.7-1" H2O
PC Ridgeline: 10-13 inches of snow // 0.6-0.9" H2O

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