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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Drew Hardesty
Issued by Drew Hardesty on
Sunday morning, February 9, 2014

These are dangerous times.

The danger remains HIGH to EXTREME in many areas of the Wasatch Range. All aspects and elevations continue to be dangerous. Backcountry travel is not recommended. Those looking exiting mountain resorts into the "Sidecountry" are entering a HIGH to EXTREME danger. With naturals again likely, you will be in danger even in the flats beneath steep avalanche paths...and it may be possible to pull the avalanche down on top of you.

We need your help to relay the word that avalanche conditions are HIGH to EXTREME - friends, family, social media - you name it. Thanks -

Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Avalanche Warning

THE AVALANCHE WARNING CONTINUES FOR ALL THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL UTAH...SOUTHEAST IDAHO...THE WESTERN UINTAS...AND SOUTH TO THE MANTI-SKYLINE PLATEAU TO I-70. HEAVY SNOW AND WIND HAS PUSHED THE AVALANCHE DANGER TO HIGH, BORDERING ON EXTREME. AVOID BACKCOUNTRY TRAVEL ALTOGETHER...AS LARGE NATURAL AND HUMAN TRIGGERED AVALANCHES REMAIN LIKELY IN MANY AREAS ACROSS THE STATE. THIS WARNING DOES NOT INCLUDE SKI AREAS OR HIGHWAYS WHERE AVALANCHE CONTROL IS NORMALLY DONE.

Special Announcements

UDOT closed Little Cottonwood Canyon last night for avalanche control work slated for this morning. Estimated opening is 9:00 am Sunday. Backcountry restricted, please stay clear of all avalanche paths on north side of canyon.

SR 158 to Powder Mountain closed for avalanche control work through the morning.

SR 92 into American Fork Canyon closed for avalanche control work.

Weather and Snow

By now many of you likely heard of the avalanche accident near Tibble Fork Reservoir in American Fork Canyon above Provo. A 21 year old woman snowshoeing with friends was caught and buried and reportedly submerged in the creek for 25 minutes prior to being excavated by her friends. As of our last information, she remains in critical condition.

Many areas of the Wasatch Range fell apart yesterday, with large, long running natural avalanches reported from Logan to Provo and many areas in between. Strong westerly winds and warming temperatures accompanying storm totals of 2-3' of heavy dense snow easily delivered the knock-out punch. It's not over - a natural cycle is occurring in the Ogden mountains now...

It's still snowing....with reported rain/snowlines to 7500' in some areas. Winds are westerly - and down from yesterday's searing velocities - but still gusty with hourly averages in the 20mph range with gusts to 45. Most areas picked up another 6-9" overnight...but here are the storm totals (snow/snow-water-equivalent) since Thursday night -

Logan area mountains ~ 30"/6"

Ogden area mountains - 25-35"/3.6-4"

Park City mountains - 18-23"/1.5-2.0"

Big Cottonwood Canyon - 36"/3.21"

Little Cottonwood Canyon - 23"/2.27"

Provo area mountains - 25-35"/3-5.0"

Recent Avalanches

Almost too many to mention - though many many natural avalanches from elevations of 6000' to 11,000' on a variety of aspects. (More info can be found on our detailed info page, found in the menu at the top)

Logan, Ogden, and Provo went through a significant avalanche cycle yesterday...with naturals still being reported as I write...

  • Accident at Tibble Fork reservoir (see above). We'll initiate our investigation today.
  • Tri-County Peak (2nd hand report) - snowmobilers accessing Guardsman Pass from Big Cottonwood Canyon, riding the snow-packed road just beyond the Guardsman Pass into Bonanza Flats, remotely trigger Tri-County Peak 2-4' deep and 250' wide, pushing one or two of them off the road. No injuries were reported. This on a steep southeast facing slope at 10,000'.
  • Canyons backcountry - An intentional cornice drop remotely triggers a 2-5' deep and 350' wide on a steep east facing slope at 9500'.
  • Summit Park area high in Parley's canyon - a skier caught and carried, grabbed a tree, on a steep northeast facing slope at 8100'. Dimensions reported 14" deep and 80' wide.

Many naturals yesterday looked like this - (photo of Lost Creek avalanche above Provo Canyon - Kendall Wimmer)

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Avalanche Problem #1
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Any steep terrain has the potential for avalanching - it's a complex snowpack out there with upside down snow, moderate to strong westerly winds, and a rain/snow line to 7500'. Natural and human triggered slides are certain. Enough snow has fallen to allow avalanches to become way more "connected" across the landscape, resulting in slides propagating wider across terrain features.

Avalanche Problem #2
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

It's too much too fast...and the conditionally unstable snowpack has reached its breaking point. Old weak faceted interfaces from November, December, and January are likely to be crow-barred naturally or triggered by cornice failure, or people on or adjacent to the slope (triggering at a distance).

Timing is hard to gauge - If they haven't already, many of them can pull out today -

Avalanche Problem #3
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Rain/snow line reported to 7500' will push the avalanche danger envelope at the lower elevations...roof-a-lanches are possible...along with both wet loose and wet slabs possible in the lower elevations, notably in the Provo and Ogden mountains.....

Additional Information

We'll continue to see rain and snowfall throughout the day with an additional 4-8" possible. Winds will be westerly at 20-30mph. Temps will be in the mid to upper 20s at 10,000' and the low to mid 30s at 8000'. Snowfall will become more showery this afternoon through tomorrow with a break late Monday into Tuesday. Things ramp up again with a similar style storm on Wednesday through Friday.

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 or 800-662-4140, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry - especially if you are adjacent to a ski area – please call the following teams to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks.

Salt Lake and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033), Canyons Resort Dispatch (435-615-3322)

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

Sundance Dispatch (801-223-4150)

EMAIL ADVISORY We have switched to a new SLC email advisory system. If you would like to get the daily advisory by email, or if you have been getting the advisory by email since the beginning of the season and wish to continue, 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

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

Wasatch Powderbird Guides Blog/Itinerary for the Day.

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

Ski Utah mobile snow updates

Discount lift tickets are now available at Backcountry.com - Thanks to Ski Utah and the Utah Resorts. All proceeds go towards paying for Utah Avalanche Center avalanche and mountain weather advisories.

To those skinning uphill at resorts: it is your responsibility to know the resort policy on uphill travel. Some allow uphill travel and have guidelines, some don't. Contact the Ski Patrol at each resort for details. IMPORTANT: Before skinning 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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