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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Nikki Champion
Issued by Nikki Champion on
Wednesday morning, April 19, 2023
The avalanche danger is MODERATE across upper elevation terrain facing north through east through southeast for shallow slabs of wind-drifted snow. Be on the lookout for pockets of reactive wind-drifted snow, especially in steep, consequential terrain where even a small avalanche can have a detrimental outcome.
Out of the wind zone, the avalanche danger is LOW.
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Special Announcements
The last daily forecast will be Sunday, April 23. We will provide intermittent updates with any storm until Sunday, May 7th and will continue posting backcountry observations until then.
Weather and Snow
Under mostly cloudy skies, winter has returned to the Wasatch with trailhead temperatures in the mid-teens to low 20s °F and the highest weather station temperatures hovering below 5 ˚F. Winds are lightly blowing from the west-northwest at the 9,000' ridgelines and blowing 20 MPH gusting to 35 MPH at the highest ridgelines. The mountains picked up 2-5" of new snow in the last storm.
Today will remain mostly cloudy. Temperatures will climb into the low to mid 20s˚ F. Wind speeds will remain moderate throughout the day blowing from the west-northwest at 20 MPH at the 9,000' ridgelines and blowing 25 gusting to 35 MPH at the highest ridgelines. There is a minimal chance for trace precipitation throughout the day.
The unsettled weather remains in place tonight, as periods of thick cloud cover and precipitation will move through the area with the best chance of accumulation this evening.
Recent Avalanches
We had no reports of avalanches from the backcountry yesterday. Find all avalanche and snowpack observations HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
The moderate to strong westerly winds from yesterday will have transported the new snow onto leeward aspects to form sensitive drifts that will be reactive to riders today. Rounded pillows of new snow that crack or collapse on approach are sure signs that the wind-drifts are sensitive and should be approached with caution.
Use small test slopes to see how the new snow behaves before committing to a more aggressive terrain objective.
General Announcements
CLICK HERE FOR MORE GENERAL INFO AND FAQ
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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