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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Brett Kobernik
Issued by Brett Kobernik for
Thursday, December 4, 2014

Most terrain has a LOW avalanche danger. A MODERATE danger exists in the highest northwest through east facing terrain where you may find some sensitive fresh wind drifts or the chance for triggering a persistent slab avalanche. Continue to evaluate the upper elevation terrain and snowpack carefully.

Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Weather and Snow

The mountains received a trace to a couple of inches of high density snow on Wednesday. Rain/snow lines were around 8000 feet. The new snow was drifting a bit along the more exposed locations. Overnight, temperatures remain mild with most stations coming in around freezing and only into the mid 20s along the 10000 foot locations. Winds bumped up in speed slightly but still only in the moderate range from a west southwest direction.

There's been a big change to the snowpack with the recent warm temperatures. It is basically wet from the ground to the surface on all aspects up to around 9000 feet. During field work on Wednesday we found the basal facets moist and non-reactive in tests at 9700 feet. Others found similar conditions but were able to get full propagation after being quite forceful. Below are a couple of good observations describing the change that's occurring. While I can't say much for the riding conditions, at least the basal facets are going through a change for the better. The caveat is we will want to continue to watch these facets in the highest terrain. Continued warm temperatures forecast for about a week to come should encourage further settlement and rounding of these weak grains.

Salt Lake 12/3/2014 Observation: Cardiff Fork Josh Beckner Details
Salt Lake 12/3/2014 Observation: Meadows mark white Details
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Avalanche Problem #1
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

While there is little chance you could trigger a persistent slab avalanche below 9500 feet, most folks are still a little leery of the highest more northerly aspects. We would love to see some observations from this high terrain, so, if you get a chance to safely look at the snowpack on northerly terrain above 10,000 feet, let everyone know what you're seeing by SUBMITTING A BACKCOUNTRY OBSERVATION. (Thank You!)

Avalanche Problem #2
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

If you're up along the highest ridgelines, you may find some fresh drifts that might crack out. These won't pose much threat unless you get taken off guard in exposed terrain where you may get flushed over rocks or through trees.

Additional Information

We'll see clouds and the chance for some snow flurries today without much accumulation expected. The rain/snow line will once again be quite high (near 8000') with continued mild temperatures. There's a break on Friday then another weak disturbance into Saturday will again bring some minor snow accumulations and continued mild temperatures. Warm temperatures will continue and the GFS weather model predicts they'll get even warmer in the middle of next week.

General Announcements

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry - especially if you are adjacent to a ski area – please call the following teams to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks.

Salt Lake and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033), Canyons Resort Dispatch (435-615-3322)

Snowbasin Resort Dispatch (801-620-1017), Powder Mountain Dispatch (801-745-3772 x 123).

Sundance Dispatch (801-223-4150)

EMAIL ADVISORY If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you will need to subscribe here.​

DAWN PATROL Hotline updated daily by 5-530am - 888-999-4019 option 8.

Twitter Updates for your mobile phone - DETAILS

UDOT canyon closures: LINK TO UDOT

Utah Avalanche Center mobile app - Get your advisory on your iPhone along with great navigation and rescue tools.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides Blog/Itinerary for the Day.

Lost or Found something in the backcountry? - http://nolofo.com/

Ski Utah mobile snow updates

Discount lift tickets will soon be available at Backcountry.com - Thanks to Ski Utah and the Utah Resorts. All proceeds go towards paying for Utah Avalanche Center avalanche and mountain weather advisories.

To those skinning uphill at resorts: it is your responsibility to know the resort policy on uphill travel. You can see the uphill travel policy for each resort here. IMPORTANT: Before skinning or hiking at a resort under new snow conditions, check in with Ski Patrol. Resorts can restrict or cut off access if incompatible with control and grooming operations.

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you shop from Backcountry.com or REI: Click this link for Backcountry.com or this link to REI, shop, and they will donate a percent of your purchase price to the UAC. Both offer free shipping (with some conditions) so this costs you nothing!

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This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always exist.

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