Alta Ski Area has closed the Summer Road and access to Catherine's for lift area operations. Grizzly Gulch remains open.

Many ski areas are now closed to uphill travel in order to prepare for winter operations. Resort uphill travel policies can be found HERE.

Under overcast skies resorts are reporting a trace of snow at the higher elevations. The 9000' ridgeline winds are currently light from the northwest gusting into the mid-teens. The 11,000' ridgeline winds are north/northwest in the high 20's (mph) gusting to the high 40's (mph). Temperatures are in the mid-teens (F) at the lower elevations and in the single digits at the higher elevations.

Today temperatures should warm into the mid 20's (F) at lower elevations and into the high teens at higher elevations. Winds will remain northerly. Skies will be partly to mostly cloudy. Light snow is forecast to taper off throughout the day.

---

As we move into a high pressure cycle, skiers are noting feathery crystals forming on the snow surface throughout the Central Wasatch. Cold clear nights with higher humidity and light winds create surface hoar, which is the wintertime equivalent of dew. While these crystals are fun to ski and pretty to look at, they can create a future persistent weak layer if they are not destroyed prior to being buried. If you're out and about take note of where you find these crystals and submit an observation here.

Read more about Surface Hoar here.

Photo of Surface Hoar from the Park City side (Crandall)

Photo of Surface Hoar from Broads Fork (Grainger)