Forecast: Salt Lake Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Issued by Dave Kelly on
Monday morning, March 31, 2025

There is a LOW avalanche danger to start today. The danger will rise to MODERATE with new snowfall and increased wind speeds this afternoon where it will be possible for humans to trigger small soft slab avalanches made up of new or wind-drifted snow.

Keep an eye out for changing conditions and avoid any steep slope that could have shallow drifts of new or wind-blown snow.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

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Weather and Snow

Currently, under partly cloudy skies trailhead temperatures are in the 30's °F and the highest peaks are in the 20's °F. Wind speeds have picked up and are blowing from the southwest at the lower ridgelines in the 20's gusting to the 30's MPH and at the highest ridgelines blowing from the south-southwest in the 20's gusting to the 50's MPH. There was no new snow overnight.

Today, look for partly cloudy skies with cloud cover increasing later this afternoon. Temperatures will be in the high 30's and low 40's °F. Winds will blow from the south and southwest 20 gusting to 30 MPH at the lower ridgelines and from the southwest 30 gusting to 50 MPH at the highest ridgelines. Wind speeds will increase throughout the day with gusts up to 65 MPH possible at the highest ridgelines. There is a chance of a trace to 2" snow and .10"-.20" snow water equivalent (SWE) expected during the day.

The storm is forecast to really get rolling with the passage of the cold front around 6PM tonight where we can expect to see increased wind speeds with 6"-12" snow and .60"-1.20" SWE. Don't discount the chance of thunder and lightning with the passage of the cold front.

Yesterday, the new snow bonded well to the old snow surface and on smooth surfaces we found good travel in the backcountry.

Recent Avalanches

There were reports of shallow loose dry avalanches on steep terrain running on a density change within the newest snow. There was a dry loose slide that entrained more snow in Alexander Basin, and a catch and carry in Mill B South.

Check out all recent avalanches and observations HERE.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Look for and avoid pillowy wind features and avoid steep slopes that have signs of wind loading such as cracking in the new snow. These drifts will be on the downwind side of ridges and gully features and you will want to stay back from sensitive new cornices on ridgelines.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

With increased snowfall this afternoon you may see or trigger shallow new snow avalanches. These will be a couple of inches deep and are not of much harm to humans. Where this changes is in steep terrain where new snow has the ability to entrain more snow and run a long distance. These new snow slides could pack enough power to push you off your feet, and in extreme terrain overhanging cliffs or into steep trees even a shallow dry loose avalanche could be enough to take you for a nasty ride.

Photo (J. Walter)

of a shallow avalanche pushing a skier off their feet.

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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.

Observations and Avalanches

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