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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Evelyn Lees
Issued by Evelyn Lees for
Friday, March 1, 2019
A MODERATE AVALANCHE DANGER exists on steep, wind drifted slopes at the upper elevations and some mid elevation slopes. These reactive wind drifts will be most widespread on northwest through easterly facing slopes, and their size will increase with elevation. These avalanches are large enough to catch and carry a person, and could run far and fast on the hard old surfaces. Other terrain has a LOW avalanche danger, though isolated, small wind drifts can still be triggered.
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Special Announcements
Enjoy spring skiing at Snowbasin Resort. The UAC has discount Snowbasin tickets available.
Announcement: Joint Drew Hardesty at 6PM on Wednesday, March 6 at Rocksteady Bodyworks for an interactive discussion on the State of the Snowpack.
Like clockwork, the Week in Review has arrived. Catch up on the past week’s weather and avalanches.
Weather and Snow
2 to 3” of wonderful dense snow fell overnight, the best kind to fill in and cover the variable surfaces of wind board, sastrugi and crusts. The lower angle slopes will be the most filled in and ride the best. A few more snow showers possible this morning, with mostly cloudy and foggy skies today. Snow may start to fall again this afternoon, with another few inches possible by tomorrow morning.
Temperatures have cooled, and are now in the teens and low 20s, and the rain/snow line has dropped. The small front is past and to the south of us, and the winds have shifted back to the southwest, 15 mph averages with gusts in the 30s, below about 10,500’. But there is a significant bump in speeds above 10,500’ - averages of 30 to 40 mph, with gusts in the 50s.
Recent Avalanches
No new avalanches reported yesterday, though continued loading by the wind was observed in isolated places at mid and upper elevations, with new sensitive cornices developing in spots. In the Ogden area mountains yesterday, with a bit more snow and wind, sensitive drifts 8 to 12” deep had formed by the end of the day.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Sensitive new wind drifts have been created by the southwest winds from the few inches of storm snow. These soft wind drifted will be very reactive to a person or ski cuts on steep slopes, resulting in avalanches large enough to catch and carry a person. The drifts could be a foot or more deep at the higher elevations. On slopes with hard, slick sun crusted and wind hammered surfaces beneath the new snow, these slides could pick up steam and run further and faster than expected, with debris large enough to bury a person.
The drifts will become more widespread and deeper the higher you go in elevation, because there is more wind and snow. Avoid these slabs of wind drifted snow on steep slopes. Wind drifts are often rounded, smooth, and cracky. If you see a slope that’s been scoured or eroded, think about where the snow may have been deposited.
The large cornices have become a permanent part of the landscape, and today's winds are adding another layer to them. The old cornices will break back much further than expected, and the new cornices will be very sensitive today.
Mary Ellen gulch, Nason photo.
Additional Information
As temperatures continue to cool, so does the wet snow at the low and mid elevations. Still, it may be possible to get a wet loose sluff moving in unconsolidated snow on a very steep slope at the lower elevations, such as a gully, creek or road bank.
General Announcements
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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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