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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Nikki Champion
Issued by Nikki Champion on
Saturday morning, March 14, 2020
Most terrain has a generally LOW avalanche danger. However, areas of MODERATE danger do exist at all upper elevations where fresh slabs of wind drifted snow exists. These wind slabs will be generally shallow and isolated to terrain features that allow for drifting snow to accumulate.
Continue to evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Weather and Snow
This morning under mostly cloudy skies mountain temperatures are in the upper 20s F at trailheads and low 20s F at ridgelines. Winds are currently south-southwesterly averaging in the mid-20s mph at mid-elevations with gusts up to 40 mph. At 11,000 ft winds are averaging 30 mph with gusts above 60 mph. Since yesterday 1" of snow has fallen in the mountains.
Today a slow-moving system will bring a bit more snowfall to the area into the early evening. Temperatures will rise to the low 40s F at trailheads, and mid-30s F in the mountains. Winds will increase and continue to be Southwesterly, averaging 10-30 mph with gusts up to 35 mph at most elevations. Expect gusts up to 65 mph at 11,000 ft. This storm system could bring 1-3 more inches of snowfall to the Central Wasatch.
Dry powder can still be found above 9500 feet on north-facing slopes. It's not deep but good riding conditions nonetheless. Yesterday I was able to find a few good turns in protected terrain features, such as sub ridges and within the trees. Look for soft snow and graupel. My full observation is HERE.

Our Week in Review - where we summarize snow, weather, and avalanche activity over the past week, is available HERE.
Recent Avalanches
No new wet snow avalanche activity yesterday.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Last night's and today's strong winds in combination with a few inches of snow will drift and form fresh slabs today. These winds drifts will be very small, as they will only have a few inches of snow to move around, but with such strong winds, any snow that is available for transportation will be transported.
Look for shallow slabs of wind drifted snow on isolated upper elevation terrain features that snow could be deposited, such as ridgelines and gullies. While these slabs will be primarily on the north and east end of the compass, high winds can deposit snow on all aspects, and at a few lower elevations such as mid-elevation ridgelines.
Look for any slopes with signs of wind drifted snow, and avoid those slopes.
General Announcements
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.