Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Drew Hardesty
Issued by Drew Hardesty for
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Today the avalanche danger will rise earlier to CONSIDERABLE for wet avalanches on all steep sunlit slopes with sun and warming.
Natural and human triggered wet avalanches are certain on east, then south, then west facing slopes...and even include low and some mid elevation northerly terrain. Avoid being on or beneath the steep sun-drenched slopes when they've become wet and unstable. A pockety Moderate exists for areas of sensitive new wind drifts in the mid and upper elevations.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
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Weather and Snow
Skies are mostly clear but for some high cloud cover overhead. In the black of night, one could make out the moon-dog with these high streamers moving through. The south to southwesterlies picked up overnight and are blowing 15-20mph with gusts to 35. The most exposed ridgelines have hourly averages of 25-30mph with gusts to 35. As of 4am, temperatures are already in the low to mid-30s. Snow surfaces will soften and become unstable much earlier with this fair-at-best refreeze. Upper elevation northerlies held the last vestiges of good riding, but they'll now have suffered a bit of wind damage.

With the ridge axis now just to the east, we'll see high thin clouds, moderate southwest winds, and scorching temperatures in the mountains. Many trailheads and base areas are forecast to reach near 60°F with ridgelines heading toward 40°F. Scorching temperatures will persist through Wednesday night when a disorganized system ushers in cooler temps and perhaps a few inches of snow.
Recent Avalanches
Wet activity stayed mostly in check yesterday but for some relatively minor wet sluffs in steep sunbaked terrain. Dry sluffing, however, occurred with provocation along the steep upper elevations, but these too were mostly harmless. Three, perhaps four skier triggered storm slabs released in the following areas: the Snowbird periphery to the south (upper AF); in the high alpine of Mill B South, and in the Bountiful/Sessions mountains. These were roughly 8-16" deep and up to 100' wide on steep north to east facing terrain between 9000' and 10,700'. (Nat Grainger photo below from Mill B South). One party experienced collapsing while approaching the Heart of Darkness couloir in upper Mill B South...and altered their plans. Never a bad decision. (Terrain names and locations can always be found on wbskiing.com) . Full observations can be found in the Menu bar above.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Spring wet avalanching is affected by a ton of factors relating to cloud cover, relative humidity, temperature, wind, albedo; the list goes on and on. You see the scales above. Mitigating factors to potentially limit today's wet activity include the southwest wind, occasional clouds and previous sun/temp damage. But for me, it's not enough. Today - owing to the warm overnight temps - the surface snow will thaw and become unstable much more quickly than yesterday. Natural and human triggered wet avalanche can again be expected in steep terrain on all but the steep northerly upper elevations. Much of the wet snow will be able to run fast and far on the underlying crusts and even potentially gouge into unconsolidated wet grains in the low elevation shady terrain.
Initial signs of instability include rollerballs, pinwheels, initially small sluffs. Finding yourself boot-top or trenching in the wet snow? These are signs to seek colder aspects or low angle terrain.
Timing is key. If you're reading this, you're probably too late to be on any steepest, most sustained slopes that'll see direct sun and heating. Plan your descents and exits accordingly.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Pockety wind drifts can be expected now primarily in the upper elevation northwest to north to northeast facing slopes. Most of Sunday's storm snow instabilities have settled out by now.

CORNICES will become more sensitive as they sag in the sweltering heat. These have become enormous this winter and destruction from cornice failure has been well observed and documented this week. INFO.
ROOF-ALANCHES are also expected with the sun and temperatures. PLEASE spread the word to other homeowners in the mountains. Roof-alanche fatalities have occurred in the West this year with many close calls.
GLIDE CRACKS ARE WIDENING. Avoid being under the widening glide cracks noted in upper Cardiff, Mill B, Broads, Stairs, and upper Porter Fork of BCC. Most of these are mid/upper elevation northeast facing.
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.