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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Greg Gagne
Issued by Greg Gagne on
Friday morning, March 6, 2020
The avalanche danger is Low at all elevations and aspects and conditions are generally safe. As the day warms small, loose wet avalanches will be possible on aspects facing east, south, and west, as well as low and mid-elevation northerly slopes.

The avalanche danger may rise to Moderate on some steeper solar aspects.

Small pockets of fresh wind drifts may be found along upper elevation ridges.
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Moderate
Considerable
High
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Weather and Snow
Currently: Skies are partly cloudy and temperatures are right around freezing in most mountain locations. Winds are southerly and gusting into the teens and low 20's along mid and upper elevations, and into the 30's mph at 11,000'.
Today: Expect partly cloudy skies with temperatures well-above freezing, rising into the upper 40's F at 8000', and upper 30's F at 10,000'. Winds will be southerly, averaging in the teens at with gusts in the 20's mph at mid-elevations, and averaging in the 20's, with gusts in the 30's and 40's mph at upper elevations.
The snow surface is a mess, with widespread crusts predominating. However, on my field work on Thursday I was still finding soft, recrystallized snow on upper elevation northerly aspects.
Recent Avalanches
No backcountry avalanches reported over the past two days.

Our Week in Review - where we summarize snow, weather, and avalanche activity over the past week, is available HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
The avalanche danger is Low, but there are a few things to watch for, including small, loose, wet avalanches on aspects facing east, south, and west, as well as low and mid-elevation northerly aspects. With a poor overnight refreeze, any wet activity may begin earlier than expected. On some steeper solar aspects, the danger for wet avalanches may rise to Moderate.
With an increase in winds overnight and into today, small pockets of fresh wind drifts may be found along upper elevation ridges.
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.