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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Evelyn Lees
Issued by Evelyn Lees for
Saturday, February 2, 2019
TODAY: The Avalanche Danger is MODERATE on mid and upper elevation slopes facing northwest through easterly for triggering a new wind slab. Small wet, loose sluffs may be triggered on lower elevation shady slopes if it rains this afternoon.

TONIGHT and SUNDAY: Avalanche danger will rise to CONSIDERABLE OR HIGH, with about a foot of new snow and very strong winds. Natural avalanches will be likely. For an early morning update Sunday, call the telephone hot line at 1-888-999-4019, option 6, updated around 5 am.
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Special Announcements
New blog post - I AM Dangerous (link). This is a conversation/collaboration with the writer Molly Absolon in the Tetons. Thanks Molly.
Catch up on the past week's weather and avalanches - The Week in Review
Weather and Snow
A warm, wet storm will slam into northern Utah, bringing a moderate amount of heavy wet snow, some low elevation rain, and extremely strong winds tonight ahead of a Sunday morning cold front. A second colder storm will bring periods of snow Sunday night through Tuesday.
Now, 6 am: under partly cloudy skies, the southerly winds are averaging 20 to 30 mph, with gusts 35 to 50 mph, and temperatures are in the 20s.
Today: the southerly winds will be ramping up - 30 mph averages, with gusts to 50 mph at the mid elevations, and 50 mph averages, with gusts to 70 at the upper elevations. 1-3” of snow late this afternoon, with rain to about 7,500’. Temperatures warming into the mid 30s to mid 40s.
Tonight: 8 to 14” of snow possible, with VERY STRONG southwesterly winds - 40 to 55 mph averages, with gusts 70 to 100 mph. Temperatures cooling into the twenties.
Recent Avalanches
No new avalanches reported yesterday.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
The increasingly strong winds will move snow today, forming sensitive drifts at the mid and upper elevations. On the shadier, northwest through southeasterly facing slopes, the new drifts will be sitting on weak, sugary snow. Look for and avoid any smooth, rounded drifts. Shooting cracks in dense or harder snow are a sure sign you've found a wind drift. It will be possible to trigger these drifts from a distance or from below.
Cornices may start to grow along the upper and mid elevation ridge lines. Give them a wide berth - travel well back from the edges and avoid travel beneath them.
Avalanche Problem #2
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Wet loose sluffs - with a rain/snow line expected to be around 7,500’ this afternoon, watch for wet loose sluffs if it starts raining where you are. The most sensitive snow will be on shady slopes, where the cold, sugary loose facets won’t like getting wet. Avoid travel on steep slopes when it's raining, including small terrain traps, such as steep siided creek beds and road cuts.
The various faceted weak layers in the snowpack may become active once again during this storm cycle, as they get overload by snow and wind drifts. These persistent weak layers vary throughout Utah mountains - check the specific regional forecast of where you plan to travel.
General Announcements
CLICK HERE FOR MORE GENERAL INFO AND FAQ
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.
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