Week in Review: Avalanche Conditions and Snowpack Developments (February 28 - March 6, 2025) Each week, we look back at the key snowfall, weather, and avalanche events from the previous week. For archived forecasts, visit the Salt Lake Mountains’ past updates. Overall Summary: It was a week of transition in the Salt Lake mountains, starting with warm, sunny weather and MODERATE avalanche danger before a series of storms brought winter back in full force. Early in the week, riders continued to trigger 2–4 ft deep avalanches on a persistent weak layer, primarily …

Week in Review: Avalanche Conditions and Snowpack Developments (February 21 - February 27, 2025) Each week, we look back at the key snowfall, weather, and avalanche events from the previous week. For archived forecasts, visit the Salt Lake Mountains’ past updates. Overall Summary: The week was dominated by CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger, driven by multiple buried weak layers, wind-drifted snow, and increasing wet snow instabilities due to strong sunshine and warm temperatures. A Special Avalanche Bulletin remained in effect for several days following a week of heavy …

Week in Review: Avalanche Conditions and Snowpack Developments (February 14 - February 20, 2025) Each week, we look back at the key snowfall, weather, and avalanche events from the previous week. For archived forecasts, visit the Salt Lake Mountains’ past updates. Overall Summary: It was an intense week in the mountains, with a series of storms bringing heavy snowfall, strong winds, and rapidly evolving avalanche conditions. The week kicked off with an Avalanche Warning on Friday as a storm moved in, pushing avalanche danger to HIGH at upper elevations. By …

Week in Review: Avalanche Conditions and Snowpack Developments (February 7 - February 13, 2025) Each week, we look back at the key snowfall, weather, and avalanche events from the previous week. For archived forecasts, visit the Salt Lake Mountains’ past updates. Overall Summary: A potent storm Friday delivered 6–19 inches of heavy snow, rapidly loading an already unstable snowpack triggering a widespread avalanche cycle and bumping danger to CONSIDERABLE for much of the week. Saturday saw numerous large and dangerous slides, including a fatal avalanche in East Bowl …

Week in Review: Avalanche Conditions and Snowpack Developments (January 31 - February 6, 2025) Each week, we look back at the key snowfall, weather, and avalanche events from the previous week. For archived forecasts, visit the Salt Lake Mountains’ past updates. Overall Summary: A powerful winter storm brought heavy snow, strong winds, and rapidly changing avalanche conditions beginning Saturday, February 1. The week began with MODERATE danger but quickly escalated to CONSIDERABLE as 7-12 inches of snow and 70+ mph winds created reactive wind slabs on weak, faceted snow. …

Week in Review: Avalanche Conditions and Snowpack Developments (January 24 - January 30th, 2025) Each week, we look back at the key snowfall, weather, and avalanche events from the previous week. For archived forecasts, visit the Salt Lake Mountains’ past updates. Overall Summary: A week of shifting conditions in the Wasatch brought moderate avalanche danger, with wind-drifted snow and persistent weak layer concerns dominating the forecast. Early in the period, strong winds and light snowfall contributed to isolated instability, with a small skier-triggered slide on …

If you’ve been following the avalanche forecast this season, you’ve noted that Utah, and much of the Intermountain West, is dealing with a persistent weak layer avalanche problem that has been producing large, destructive avalanches. Tragically, some of these have been deadly. You’ve probably also heard a common trend among avalanche forecasters advising backcountry riders to avoid “thin and rocky areas, where you are more likely to trigger an avalanche.” In this blog post, we will discuss what’s going on with persistent weak layer avalanches and why thin spots are so dangerous. …