Under partly cloudy skies trailhead temperatures are in the low teens F while the highest ridgeline temperatures are in the single digits F. Winds are blowing lightly from the north at the 9000' ridgelines and from the north-northwest 15 gusting to 30 MPH at the 11,000' ridgelines. Today, winds will blow from the north-northwest 15 to 25 MPH at the 9000' ridgelines and 25 to 35 MPH at the 11,000' ridgelines. Winds will shift to the north and decrease throughout the day. Skies will be partly cloudy with temperatures 28-32 F. No new snow is expected today. The freezing level will rise from 4000' to 5000' feet throughout the day.
Storm Totals (total height of snow)
- Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons 9-21" snow/ .5-1.1" water storm totals (total depth 60-145")
- Park City Ridgeline 9-10"snow/ .5-.7" water storm totals (total depth 70-100")
- Ogden Area Mountains 6-12" snow/ .6-.1.5" water storm totals (total depth 90-125")
- Provo Area Mountains 6-8" snow/ .35-.40" water storm totals (total depth 100-115")
Yesterday there were reports of natural soft slab avalanches running on steep slopes during the storm. Riders also reported loose dry avalanches running on a density change within the new snow and wind-drifted avalanches in upper elevation terrain 1-2' deep. There was a close call in the Primrose Cirque in the Provo area mountains where a skier triggered a wind-drifted slab of snow and was caught and carried on a steep north facing slope at 8500'. This avalanche was 12" deep and 60' wide. This avalanche is similar to what I would expect to find in steep alpine terrain in the Salt Lake area mountains and is a reminder that even mid-elevation terrain can resemble high alpine terrain under the correct conditions.
