Forecast: Salt Lake Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Issued by Nikki Champion on
Friday morning, April 10, 2026

This morning, the avalanche danger is generally LOW. Throughout the day, it may rise to MODERATE on all mid- and upper-elevation slopes with daytime warming. As the snow softens, both natural and human-triggered avalanches may become possible, especially during periods of sun or when heat builds beneath thin cloud cover.

Avoid steep terrain during the warmest part of the day and watch for changing conditions.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

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Special Announcements

Human Factor Research: Researchers Ian McCammon and Sara Boilen are developing new tools for managing human factors for backcountry skiers and boarders. This survey asks about personal experiences with human factors and will take 7-8 minutes to complete. Link is HERE.

Weather and Snow

This morning, skies are broken, and overnight temperatures dropped into the mid 30s °F. Winds have shifted more southeasterly and generally decreased, though easterly winds are not well measured across the range. Weather stations are showing ridgetop gusts around 20–30 mph. Given the broken cloud cover and slightly warmer temperatures, I would expect a more superficial refreeze this morning compared to the last few.

Today, skies will be partly sunny, with a chance of light showers this afternoon. Expect winds to shift more southwesterly and increase to moderate, with gusts around 30 mph along the high ridges and up to 50 mph along the highest peaks. Temperatures will rise into the upper 50s °F and low 60s °F.

Looking ahead, things cool down and turn stormy this weekend into early next week, though details are still coming together. Saturday brings the first system, followed by a colder and more promising storm Sunday into Monday. Snow levels should stay below 8,000 feet with that second system. Snowfall looks light on Saturday, with more substantial accumulation Sunday into Monday. Totals could reach 6–16 inches of new snow, with up to 1.3 inches of water.

The Week in Review has been published and highlights the previous week's key avalanche and weather events contributing to conditions in the backcountry. Check it out.

Recent Avalanches

One report came in from the northwest side of Cardiff Pass near 10,000 feet, where a wet loose avalanche initially triggered high on the rocks and then stepped down into a deeper wet slab lower on the slope. Crowns were visible at the top of the main break near the rocks. Though the exact timing is unknown, it likely occurred on 4/7 or 4/8.

On Tuesday, a skier triggered a soft slab avalanche in Wolverine Cirque on a steep northeast-facing slope at 10,500 feet. The skier was briefly caught before skiing off the slab.

Wet slab on the Northwest side of Cardiff Pass. Photo: M. Maier and E. Fullmer

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

With warming daytime temperatures and increased overnight cloud cover, wet snow avalanches may become possible by later this morning or early this afternoon. It has been a week since the last storm, and many snow surfaces remain unconsolidated. Expect wet and heavy snow by midday, especially on west-, north-, and east-facing slopes where there is more recent snow and less consolidation compared to the solar aspects.

Wet loose avalanches may start small and predictable, but they can entrain enough snow to become destructive and may step down into deeper layers, forming a larger wet slab.

Start early and stick to supportable snow on solar aspects this morning. When the snow surface becomes slushy and wet, it is time to move to lower-angle terrain.

Additional Information

We have published February 2026: Four Avalanche Fatalities in Five Days: a community review with most of the UAC Salt Lake office. This 38-minute video is worth sitting down and digesting. A huge thanks to UAC Education Manager & Forecaster McKinley Talty for his hard work putting this together behind the scenes.

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.

Observations and Avalanches

Backcountry Emergency Procedures