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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Drew Hardesty
Issued by Drew Hardesty for
Monday, March 23, 2020
The avalanche danger remains mostly LOW. Low danger does not mean no danger. Pockets of wind drifts may again be found in extreme upper elevation terrain.
If we see more snow than expected, sluffing is likely in the steeper terrain...and may run naturally during periods of heavy snowfall.
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Special Announcements
UAC operating schedule - We will continue issuing regular avalanche forecasts into mid April.
Spring Awareness Campaign - The UAC counts on donations from the backcountry community. We know these are uncertain times and any donation during our awareness campaign will help us continue providing avalanche forecasting and education.
CDC Guidelines - Even in the backcountry and in parking lots, please follow CDC guidelines like limiting group size and keeping a distance of at least 6 feet from other people to protect yourself and others. Read the guidelines HERE.
Taking risks - Be extra conservative to avoid the risk of accidents which can stress the capacity of our medical system.
Skiing and riding at closed ski resorts - Some resorts allow access now and some do not. Please check HERE for the latest info on ski area access.
New to the backcountry (including riding at closed resorts) - Watch the award-winning, 15 minute Know Before You Go video, or take the 5-part, free online-learning series.
Weather and Snow
Skies are partly cloudy this early morning but I expect to see snow showers to begin around midday. This first bit of precipitation is really just spillover from a storm passing to the south of us, but the real prize* moves in from the northwest tomorrow. For today, mountain temperatures will be in the upper 20s up high, the mid-30s down low. Winds backed to the southwest overnight, blowing 15-20mph with gusts to 25 and 20-30mph with gusts to 35 at 11,000'. They'll lose steam and veer to the west and northwest this afternoon.
*The real prize. A major storm system moves in tomorrow through late Thursday that could produce upwards of 18-24" of snow in the mountains with some snowfall reaching the valley floor.
Recent Avalanches
Very shallow wind slabs were triggered yesterday in some of the more radical terrain of the Wasatch. INFO These were north facing and above 11,000' in the Provo area mountains. An excellent observation in adjacent terrain from yesterday can be found HERE.
In more pedestrian terrain, shallow damp push-alanches were triggered on steep lower elevation northerly slopes.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Today, the overall avalanche danger remains LOW. This means that human-triggered avalanches are unlikely, but small avalanches in isolated areas are possible.
If we see more snowfall today than expected, sluffing is possible on the steepest slopes.
Low elevation northerly terrain may also prone to damp sluffing with daytime heating.
Additionally, keep in mind that closed ski resorts are performing no avalanche control work and must be treated as the backcountry.
Additional Information
Looking for more avalanche related content during some down time? We've posted some recent content from the New Yorker, SL Tribune, and KUER on our Facebook page.
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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