Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Nikki Champion
Issued by Nikki Champion on
Saturday morning, November 14, 2026

Winter is finally showing up, and it’s time to shift your mindset. Conditions are still thin, and the biggest hazards right now are rocks, stumps, and deadfall hiding just beneath the surface, but that’s starting to change. A storm moved in last night and is expected to peak midday, with storm totals up to 10 inches, and avalanche danger will continue to rise as the snow falls.

With fresh snow and rising winds, expect shallow slabs of new or wind-drifted snow at the upper elevations, especially where dense snow has landed on a weak, faceted base. Conditions could change quickly through the day, so pay close attention to what’s happening around you.

More storms next week will add to the load and make avalanches more likely. In the early season, even a small slide can drag you through rocks and stumps, so the consequences are high. If you’re heading into the backcountry, carry a beacon, shovel, and probe, know how to use them, and start choosing your terrain carefully now.

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Weather and Snow

This morning, snow is falling in the mountains, and rain is falling in the valleys. Temperatures are in the upper 20s °F along the highest ridgelines and the low 30s °F at trailheads. Winds over the past 24 hours have been mostly from the east, peaking last night with gusts up to 40 mph along the highest ridgelines, but they have since shifted to the west, southwest and calmed way down. As of 7 a.m., snow totals range from 3 to 4.5 inches, with up to 0.41 inches of water, favoring upper Little Cottonwood at about an 11:1 ratio. Lower in the canyon, at Reynolds, it’s still raining.

Today, temperatures will climb into the upper 30s and low 40s °F. Winds will be mostly from the south but will pick up at the upper elevations, with gusts up to 50 mph along the highest ridgelines. Periods of snow will continue through the morning and peak around midday, then taper off to showers in the afternoon and evening. The Cottonwoods could see another 1 to 5 inches of snow, with up to 0.5 inches of water.

A colder storm will roll in Monday evening and last until Wednesday morning. In northern Utah, snow could fall as low as 4,800 feet, which is the foothills and higher benches. The mountains will get more snow this time, with 6 to 12 inches becoming more likely in the upper Cottonwoods and the southern mountains.

An even colder storm will follow Thursday through Saturday. This one has the best chance of bringing snow all the way down to the valleys, with about a 60% chance of snow reaching the valley floors (around 4,200 feet) by Saturday morning. For now, the valleys could see up to an inch.

Recent Avalanches

No recent avalanche activity.

If you’re getting out into the field, please submit your observations here.

Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
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So what does this mean for avalanches? Before this storm, the little snow we had was mostly on north-facing slopes above about 9,000 feet, and it was weak, a mix of crusts and loose, faceted snow. The only missing ingredient has been a slab on top. This storm could provide one, and next week’s storms almost certainly will if the forecasts hold.

As new snow and stronger winds build at the upper elevations, the danger could quickly rise through the day. Expect shallow, likely sensitive slabs of new and wind-drifted snow, especially on those upper elevation slopes that already held weak, faceted snow.

These slides may be small, but early-season consequences are serious. With so little snow covering the ground, even a short ride can drag you through rocks, stumps, and deadfall.

If you’re heading into the backcountry, practice safe travel techniques, like exposing only one person at a time. Everyone in your group should carry a beacon, shovel, and probe and know how to use them. It’s time to start treating steep terrain with caution.

Additional Information

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.