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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Evelyn Lees
Issued by Evelyn Lees on
Sunday morning, November 15, 2015

The Avalanche Danger is generally LOW, but Pockets of Moderate Danger exist for fresh pockets of wind drifted snow. These will be most widespread on upper to mid elevation slopes facing northwest through easterly, and sensitive because they are sitting on weak, sugary snow. Cracking or audible collapsing are red flags that you are in suspect terrain. With such a thin and shallow snow pack, even a short ride could leave you banged up and injured.

We will continue to issue intermittent advisories as conditions warrant.

Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements

UPDATE: Starting Monday morning, November 16, Alta Ski Area will be closed to uphill traffic except the Albion Basin summer road will remain open for access to Point Supreme.

Uphill travel at Snowbird is currently closed. Public use is prohibited as avalanche control and slope preparation is in progress. Please check here for changes to the status

Remember, control work is not being done at the unopened ski area, and that terrain must be treated as backcountry.

Weather and Snow

Skies are clear today, with temperatures in the 20s and 30s. The south to southwesterly are on the increase, with averages in the 15 to 25 mph range. There is just enough snow to recreate on snow packed roads, ski runs (at the closed ski areas) or in grassy meadows on the shady aspects. But quite honestly, the 8 to 15 inch "base" really isn't enough to cover the rocks, stumps and deadfall. The sunny, southerly through westerly slopes have been melting, and are back to bare dirt in many locations.

Recent Avalanches

The last storm brought a round of small to medium avalanches, which can be found on our Avalanche list HERE.

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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Sensitive new wind drifts may be developing along the high ridge lines and in open bowls. Though shallow, they could surprise you with their sensitivity, as the will be sitting of weak faceted snow and even surface hoar in some locations. Denser snow, cracking and collapsing are indications that you're on a slope with either new or old wind drifts. While most of the sensitive drifts will be above 9,500', a few scattered wind slabs could be found below 9,500'.

Surface hoar from last Friday, some of which is hopefully getting destroyed by the winds. But even if the surface hoar gets destroyed, most of the snow on the northerly facing slopes has faceted to the ground, and is quite weak. A very poor set up for the early season snowpack.

Additional Information

The southwesterly winds are picking up ahead of the next splitting storm. Many stations are averaging in the twenties, with gusts in the 40s. The Pacific storm system will be splitting as it moves across the Great Basin tonight with the main energy targeted for Arizona., and then the flow is likely to become too northerly by Monday afternoon, which is a less favorable flow for the Wasatch mountains. Snow will start after midnight, with expected totals now lowered, in the 4 to 8" range. Winds should decrease after frontal passage tonight. Light snow on Monday, with highs only in the twenties. While the weather looks unsettled through the week, no major snow producers in sight.

General Announcements

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

To get help in an emergency (to launch a rescue) in the Wasatch, call 911. Be prepared to give your GPS coordinates or the run name. Dispatchers have a copy of the Wasatch Backcountry Ski map.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry, but no one is hurt and you do not need assistance, please notify the nearest ski area dispatch to avoid a needless response by rescue teams. Thanks.

Salt Lake and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033), Canyons Resort/PCMR Dispatch (435)615-1911

Snowbasin Resort Dispatch (801-620-1017), Powder Mountain Dispatch (801-745-3772 x 123).

Sundance Dispatch (801-223-4150)

EMAIL ADVISORY If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you will need to subscribe here.​

DAWN PATROL Hotline updated daily by 5-530am - 888-999-4019 option 8.

Twitter Updates for your mobile phone - DETAILS

UDOT canyon closures: LINK TO UDOT, or on Twitter, follow @UDOTavy, @CanyonAlerts or @AltaCentral

Utah Avalanche Center mobile app - Get your advisory on your iPhone along with great navigation and rescue tools.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides Blog/Itinerary for the Day.

Lost or Found something in the backcountry? - http://nolofo.com/

Ski Utah mobile snow updates

To those skinning uphill at resorts: it is your responsibility to know the resort policy on uphill travel. You can see the uphill travel policy for each resort here. IMPORTANT: Before skinning or hiking at a resort under new snow conditions, check in with Ski Patrol. Resorts can restrict or cut off access if incompatible with control and grooming operations.

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you shop from Backcountry.com or REI: Click this link for Backcountry.com or this link to REI, shop, and they will donate a percent of your purchase price to the UAC. Both offer free shipping (with some conditions) so this costs you nothing!

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on ebay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your ebay account here and click on ebay gives when you buy or sell. You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny.

This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always exist.

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