Forecast: Salt Lake Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Issued by Drew Hardesty for
Wednesday, February 28, 2024

A MODERATE avalanche danger exists on all freshly wind drifted slopes today. You can trigger 1-2' thick slabs of wind drifted snow on nearly all aspects and elevations, but they will be most pronounced on mid and upper elevation north through east through south facing slopes. Cornices have become large and unruly: they are calving naturally and triggering new soft slabs on the slope below. Give them a wide berth.

Keep an eye on how the sun and rapid warming affects the new snow. I think we'll be able to skate by today without much wet activity (?), but tomorrow will be a different story.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

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Weather and Snow

Cold Mountain.

Skies are clear. Winds, mercifully, are a fraction of what they were. Yesterday's punishing west-northwest (from the west-northwest) winds hammered all elevations: we saw tree limbs hanging from powerlines and drifts across the road down low. Up high, anemometers had gusts to near 90mph and many ski area chair lifts were on hold for much of the day. Mountain temperatures are on this side of zero, but barely.

For today, we can expect mostly sunny skies, light winds from the west, backing to the southwest, and temperature rapidly warming into the mid-20s to low 30s.

The Outlook: Winds from the southwest start to ramp up Thursday night ahead of a powerful storm what will engulf the intermountain west for the weekend. Strong winds howl ahead of a dramatic cold front that crashes through Saturday afternoon. 1-2' of snow can be expected with perhaps the lion's share in the Logan and Ogden mountains. Another storm nips at its heels for Tuesday.

So far so good - Utah precipitation/water numbers are well above "average" so far with more storms on the way.

Recent Avalanches

Strong and erratic winds produced erratic and spotty soft slabs of wind drifted snow across the compass and at many elevations yesterday, the largest of which was a 18" thick and 150' wide soft slab in Toots-to-Boot in Alexander Basin (9200' NE facing). It was consistent with other reports of natural and human triggered cornice fall that triggered the slabs below. We also got a second hand report of a skier who was involved in a large cornice fall along the Park City ridgeline, but was uninjured.

The report on Monday's avalanche accident on Little Water Peak that caught and carried four people can be found HERE.

⚠️ With clear skies and good riding conditions, I would not be surprised to have powder fever cloud good judgment in the backcountry and see a few close calls today. Human triggered avalanches are possible today.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Strong, erratic, and swirling winds have unevenly deposited soft and occasional hard slabs of wind drifted snow across the compass, but primarily on slopes with an easterly component. Note that drifts may be found well off the ridgelines and cross-loaded into gullies and couloirs. Shooting cracks may or may not be associated with the fresh drifts of wind blown snow. If you're traveling in avalanche terrain below 8000' (Mt Aire, Neffs, Lookout Mtn, etc), pockets of wind drifted snow may be found there as well.

(Wind transport and cornice fall: Ambler photo)

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

A weak facet/crust layer buried by the Valentine's Day storm led to a number of slab avalanches on solar aspects (primarily east and southeast facing aspects at the mid and upper elevation)s. This layering has become increasingly stable and the last reported avalanche was on the 23rd. Tests and observations also support this positive trend, but I want this to be on your radar if you're traveling in steep east to southeast facing terrain today.

Photo (UDOT Provo) of an avalanche that likely failed on this PWL on an east facing slope in the Snake Creek Drainage.

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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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