From Snowbird Ski Patrol: They will be firing upon the Gad Valley White Pine ridge today January 23rd from 7:30am until 9:30am. Please stay well clear of the ridge line.
Overnight temperatures dropped to near zero degrees F. This morning at some trailheads, they remain near zero but at higher elevations have warmed to near 10 degrees F.
Winds at ridgetops this morning increased some and are averaging 15 mph gusting 25-35 from the WNW.
Today will have stronger winds and snowfall. Both should start around 11 a.m. but the strongest winds and heaviest snowfall should occur later in the afternoon. Winds at upper elevations will be gusting 40-60 mph from the W and NW. The Cottonwood Canyons should do well with this storm with 8-12 inches of snow falling by tomorrow morning.
It's been snowing a lot lately. While different areas have been favored at different times, most places in the last 7 days have received snowfall containing 4-5 inches of water.
Following Monday's storm, there was a widespread natural avalanche cycle. Most avalanches broke within the new snow but some broke over wide areas. Photo below of an avalanche that occurred just north of Grandview Peak in the mountains above Bountiful (C. Taylor). This avalanche appeared to break just in new snow from the last two storms on an ice crust on a southeast facing slope
One notable exception was a large avalanche that happened Monday night naturally at Snowbird on a wind loaded slope. Triggering one of these in the backcountry is unlikely but as one professional put it "I wouldn't trust anything big for a few days." Patience is always a good thing.