Forecast: Salt Lake Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Issued by Bo Torrey on
Sunday morning, January 25, 2026

The avalanche danger is LOW, and the snow is mostly stable. Loose-dry avalanches can run on steep, sheltered, north-facing slopes. Although small, these slides can entrain enough snow to create a hazard.

Ice Climbers: Consider the terrain above you and the potential for loose-dry avalanches while planning your climb and belay positions.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

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Weather and Snow

This morning, skies are mostly clear with a few clouds hovering near the peaks. Temperatures remain cold, with most locations in the single digits °F. Light to moderate wind is blowing from the northwest at 10-15 mph, with gusts in the 20s. Over the last 24 hours, the wind along the Little Cottonwood ridgeline has been stronger, averaging 20-35 mph with gusts into the 40s. Wind chill values are subzero, with Mount Baldy registering -32 °F at 7:00 a.m.

Wind speeds are expected to peak early this afternoon before tapering off. Daytime highs will remain cold, ranging from 10–20°F, with increasing clouds and very light snow showers possible throughout the day.

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Recent Avalanches

On Friday, backcountry riders were able to trigger loose-dry avalanches that entrained the faceted surface snow on steep, north-facing slopes. As the snow surface continues to weaken, these avalanches will become easier to trigger and may grow larger in size.

You can view all recent observations here.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

There is no single, dominant avalanche problem, and the snow is generally stable. That said, avalanches are still possible in isolated terrain, especially in the upper elevations.

You may still encounter:

Small wind slabs on upper elevation ridgelines and around terrain features where snow has drifted.
Loose dry sluffs on very steep slopes, especially where the snow remains shallow or unconsolidated. As the snow surface continues to weaken, loose dry sluffs will become more common.
Loose wet avalanches on sunny slopes as the snow warms during the day.
Outlier slab avalanches failing on a persistent weak layer. Thin, steep, rocky slopes and areas with a shallow snowpack remain the most suspect.

Take advantage of the favorable weather to practice companion rescue skills, including beacon searches, probing, and strategic shoveling.

General Announcements

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