Greg Gagne
Forecaster
Our Week in Review highlights significant snowfall, weather, and avalanche events of the prior week. (Review the archived forecasts for the Salt Lake mountains.)
The danger roses for the Salt Lake mountains from Friday, December 31 through Thursday, January 6:
Summary: Heavy snowfall and strong winds over much of the recent week. Widespread avalanche activity, including very large remotely-triggered avalanches failing in faceted snow down near the ground.
Friday, December 31: 14-22" of snowfall containing upwards of 2" of water. Natural and remotely-triggered avalanches included Kessler Slabs, an avalanche that was likely remotely-triggered. This slide started up high near the summit of Kessler Peak and ran nearly 2,000' close to the summer road. Very large avalanches from control work at Cottonwood resorts with crowns 10' deep.
Saturday, January 1: Clearing skies and cold temperatures allow for visibility of recent avalanches. Several large natural avalanches were reported from the Timpanogos region, including Wooley Hole.
Sunday, January 2: A very large, remotely-triggered avalanche on the north face of Little Water Peak.
Control work from Alta ski resort
Monday, January 3: Temperatures warm somewhat with partly-cloudy skies. No avalanches reported from the backcountry.
Tuesday, January 4: Increasing winds from the southwest with strong gusts along ridgetops. No avalanches reported from the backcountry.
Wednesday, January 5: Very strong winds and heavy, dense snow. No backcountry avalanches reported, but several observations indicate sensitivities at the interface between the storm snow and the old snow surface.
Thursday, January 6: Snowfall and snow-water-equivalent (SWE) include
Little Cottonwood 20"/3.75"
Big Cottonwood 16"/2.6"
Park City Ridgeline 15"/2.3"
Further to our north, the Logan mountains received 6" of SWE!
A large, natural avalanche is reported from the Silver Fork Headwall.
Other reports include what appear to be natural avalanches in Wilson Glade and Lane's Leap,