Forecast - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Issued by Greg Gagne on
Friday morning, April 18, 2025

Thank you for a great season!

Regular avalanche forecasts have ended. This most recent update is from 5 PM on Friday, April 18, 2025. We will be issuing intermittent updates through May 1st. You can submit observations and avalanches HERE, and check out the most recent observations and avalanches HERE.

During the spring, there are typically three different avalanche problems:

Wet Snow: Wet loose avalanches, wet slab avalanches, roof slides, and glide avalanches
New Snow: New storm snow instabilities; soft slab avalanches and loose dry avalanches
Wind Drifted Snow: Wind slabs; soft or hard drifts of wind-blown snow

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

Learn how to read the forecast here

Special Announcements

If you are looking to travel uphill at the ski areas then check out the UAC Uphill Travel Policy page before heading out as many areas are still operating.

Researchers Sara Boilen and Ian McCammon are developing an open-source tool to help individuals mitigate risk in avalanche terrain. The project's first stage involves interviewing backcountry recreationalists who have been traveling in avalanche terrain for at least one season. All participants will be entered to win prizes. Please encourage taking 1-2 minutes to fill out their initial survey. Link HERE

Weather and Snow

The Thursday/Friday storm was a decent snow producer, especially for the Cottonwoods which received up to 18" of snow in the upper elevations. With sunshine forecast for Saturday, expect the usual wet-loose sluffing to begin early Saturday morning once the cold storm snow warms from the sun. The big slide paths on the south side of Little Cottonwood Canyon could entrain large amounts of wet snow that run long distances.

Click HERE to get to our weather page for up-to-date weather station data that will help with planning your tour based on new snow, temperature, wind speed, and direction.

Our partners at the National Weather Service put out a weather discussion HERE and the mountain weather forecast will continue to be updated twice a day through the first week of May.

Recent Avalanches

On Friday, my partner and I were in upper Little Cottonwood and were getting sluffing in the storm snow on steep aspects.

We will continue to post avalanches and observations. You can submit what you're seeing HERE, and check out all recent avalanches and observations HERE.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

When cold, dry snow becomes wet for the first time, it almost always means wet sluffs (loose snow that fans outward as it descends).

Larger wet slab avalanches can happen when melt water percolates through a layered, winter snowpack for the first time especially after multiple days of warm temperatures combined with no refreeze at night.

Glide avalanches occur regularly in spring as the entire snowpack slides slowly on the ground like a glacier until they suddenly release into a full-depth avalanche. These occur periodically on steep rock slabs and occasionally on steep grassy slopes. Notorious glide avalanche locations include Stairs Gulch or the rock slabs in Broads Fork. Avoid crossing under any slopes with cracks to the ground in the snowpack. Remember, they come down randomly, even at night.

Warning signs may include:

Rollerballs (pinwheels) in new snow that is getting wet for the first time
Natural or human triggered wet sluffs
Small sluffs fanning out into larger slides or running long distances
Cornices breaking off

These signs mean it's time to head home or change to an aspect with cooler snow. Remember, even "smaller" slides can be dangerous in high-consequence terrain, such as above a terrain trap, trees, rocks, cliffs, or a long, large avalanche path.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

We almost always get winter-like snow storms well in the spring. Treat each storm just like you would in winter. Avalanches can occur within the new snow typically from 1) low-density layers deposited during the storm, 2) high precipitation intensity during a storm, and 3) from wind slabs created during the storm.

It's easy to test the new snow as you travel by jumping on small test slopes to see if they avalanche or dig down with your hand to see how well the new snow is bonding. Snow can change dramatically in both space and time, so never let your guard down. Avoid any steep slope with recent wind deposits.

Practice good backcountry protocol:

Check your gear before every tour, and make sure each person has a working transceiver, shovel, and probe before entering avalanche terrain
Only expose one person to a steep slope at a time
Never travel above other people

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Wind can rapidly load snow onto steep slopes, making those slopes more prone to avalanching. Avoid slopes greater than 30° in steepness if you see signs of wind-drifted snow, such as rounded and pillowy features, and shooting cracks. In some cases, wind-drifts can sound hollow like a drum.

General Announcements

CLICK HERE FOR MORE GENERAL INFO AND FAQ

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