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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Trent Meisenheimer
Issued by Trent Meisenheimer on
Wednesday morning, December 30, 2020
For today there is CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger on steep NW, N, NE, and E facing slopes at the upper elevations for triggering a slab avalanche that fails on weak faceted snow. You can still trigger avalanches 1-2' deep on, adjacent to, or below steep slopes.
A MODERATE danger exists for fresh drifts of windblown snow in the mid and upper elevations.
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Special Announcements
The Utah Avalanche Center podcast's second episode of season 4 is live - Managing Risk with Avalanches, Managing Risk with a Pandemic - A Conversation with state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn.
Stream here or tune in wherever you get your favorite podcasts

Avy pro-Pete Earle has a guest blog for us called Covid and the Avalanche Problem - The Strategic Mindset.

Thanks to the generous support of our local resorts, Ski Utah, and Backcountry, discount lift tickets are now available.
Support the UAC while you ski at the resorts this season. Tickets are available here.
Weather and Snow
As high pressure builds into the area this morning, we will remain under a cold northwest flow with clear skies and cold temperatures. Current mountain temperatures are in the single digits to low teens °F across the map. Winds are from the northwest and are blowing 5-15 mph gusting into the low 20's. Temperatures will warm into the mid to low 20's °F this afternoon.
Later this afternoon/evening, we will see increasing clouds and maybe 100 snowflakes as a weak wave passes overhead. Looking ahead, Thursday's trough looks to be splitting, and most of the energy heads south of the Wasatch range. Another trough on Saturday is a bit too far north. Our best chances for snowfall will be starting on Monday, Jan 4th, 2021. Stay tuned.
Recent Avalanches
No new avalanches were reported from backcountry travelers yesterday. Cracking and loud audible collapses continue to be reported by many. Snowpit tests continue to show propagation, meaning that avalanches can still be triggered.
Yesterday one snow safety team in Upper Little Cottonwood Canyon reported triggering an avalanche from 150' away from their ski tips. Meaning the person's weight collapsed the snowpack and the crack propagated (traveled) 150' to a steeper slope and then released an avalanche. While the avalanche wasn't that big - the distance of the remote trigger was alarming.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Poor snowpack structure remains throughout the range on many aspects and elevations, as described by the locator rose graphic to the left. However, the most likely place to trigger a slab avalanche will be on upper elevation steep slopes facing NW, N, NE, and E. In this terrain, you will find a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger, and human triggered avalanches are likely.
Across the mid-elevation west through north through east facing steep terrain, the avalanche danger is MODERATE and human triggered avalanches are possible. Don't fool yourself into thinking that the slope is safe because you see tracks or other signs of stability. Recent avalanches, poor snowpack structure, and collapsing are always the trump cards, and our best strategy is to avoid steep avalanche terrain altogether.
Video: Manship / Collett. Highlighting the poor snowpack structure, extended column test showing full propagation across the column. This is a perfect demonstration of the avalanche problem we are dealing with.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
For today, it remains possible to trigger a wind drifted snow avalanche in steep terrain. REMEMBER that the winds were from the east (southeast>northeast), resulting in unusual drifting patterns. They'll be more prominent on the north to west to the south-facing slopes at the mid and upper elevations. Drifts can be cross-loaded to the lee of sub-ridges and may be found well off the ridgelines. You can sometimes identify drifts by their rounded, chalky appearance.
REMEMBER that any slide triggered west to north to easterly facing terrain may step down into older snow layers, resulting in a much more destructive avalanche.
General Announcements
Please visit this website with information about Responsible Winter Recreation by the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation.

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.