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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Nikki Champion
Issued by Nikki Champion on
Thursday morning, November 5, 2026

The Utah Avalanche Center is back in full swing, and our staff is ready for another season in the mountains.

Early-season conditions bring their own set of hazards. With a shallow snowpack, rocks, stumps, and downed trees sit just below the surface, so even a small avalanche can have serious consequences. If you’re heading into the backcountry, carry a beacon, shovel, and probe, know how to use them, and choose your terrain carefully.

As high pressure settles in, pay attention to how the snow surface changes. Snow that weakens during extended dry periods can become a buried weak layer once the next storm arrives, so it’s worth tracking now.

Early season is the perfect time to brush up on your avalanche knowledge, and there’s no shortage of resources to help. A quick review now goes a long way once the snow starts stacking up. Check out our classes and events.

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Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements

As of 7 a.m, Wednesday, November 4, Alta Ski Area is open to uphill travel. Be sure to check each resort’s uphill travel policy before heading out.

Weather and Snow

This morning, mountain temperatures are in the low to mid-20s °F, with light southwesterly winds gusting up to 20 mph at the highest elevations. The system that brushed the Cottonwoods delivered only about 1" of new snow, with under 0.20" of water.

High pressure is building over the Wasatch, keeping temperatures 5–10°F below normal for now. A strong ridge will bring a steady warm-up through the weekend, with temperatures reaching up to 5°F above normal by Sunday. Mild, dry weather will likely continue into next week, though a few models break down the ridge midweek and bring back a more active pattern, so confidence in the longer-range forecast is low.

Since Halloween, the Wasatch has picked up 1–2 feet of new snow (1.50–2.70" of water). The storm started warm, with heavy, wet snow and a rain/snow line near 9,500', before colder air Monday into Tuesday dropped the snowline to about 8,500'. The dense snow has built a solid early-season base, but the snowpack is still shallow, with rocks and obstacles hiding just below the surface. It’s a great start, but don’t let the fresh coat of white fool you.

Recent Avalanches

The last reported avalanches were on Sunday: natural and human-triggered slides on steep slopes above 9,000' in Collins Gulch, and a skier-triggered wet loose avalanche on Eddy’s High Nowhere that grew as it ran, leaving a large debris pile on the summer road.

If you’re getting out, keep submitting and checking observations.

Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

As always, if there’s snow in the mountains, we need to be thinking about avalanches.

Yesterday, Brooke and I were out on the Park City Ridgeline and found 2–8" of weak, faceted snow, with a crust about 4" down and facets both above and below it. Overall, the shallow snowpack was loose and unconsolidated. (See video below)

In Upper Little Cottonwood Canyon, Dave Kelly found 18–24" of snow on a north-facing slope near 10,000', outside of wind-drifted areas. About 8" above the ground, small, decomposing (likely faceted) crystals sat on a melt-freeze crust and this layer failed in an extended column test and a couple of shovel shears. Below the crust were moist crystals and more crusts. This closely matches what Trent found earlier in the week.

The main concern is northwest-, north-, and northeast-facing slopes above 9,500', where new snow sits on old, faceted snow. That weak layer may not be a big problem right now, but with cold nights, low November sun, and a shallow snowpack, it will likely keep faceting and weakening. If it’s still around when the next storm arrives, it could become a much larger issue.

Keep an eye on it, and before committing to avalanche terrain, dig down in a safe spot to see what layering exists.

Additional Information

SAVE THE DATES!

It's never too early to start thinking about avalanches. Here are a few things to consider doing:

  • Learn online. We have over 5 hours of free online learning at the Know Before You Go website
  • Check out the upcoming in-person Know Before You Go events HERE
  • Sign up for an on-snow class
  • Check out the UAC's education progression HERE
  • Get your avalanche rescue gear ready for winter. Put fresh batteries in your transceiver and update the firmware. Inspect your shovel and probe. Get your airbag backpack ready by possibly doing a test deployment and updating the firmware if it is an electric version or getting your canister refilled if it's not electronic.
General Announcements

Each resort in Utah has their own policies regarding uphill travel. Check out the summary of each resort's policy before traveling uphill. For further questions contact the resort directly.

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